It is with saddened hearts that we mourn the loss of our brother firefighter Steven M. Runyon.

After  a courageous battle with cancer, Steve passed away on Friday, August 13, 2010 at Somerset Medical Center.

Steve is survived by his loving wife of 5 years, Colleen Decker Runyon, 3 daughters, Maeve, Riley and Avery, newborn infant son T.J. "Timothy", his parents Frank and Carol Runyon, 2 sisters Arlene Shockley and her husband James, Krysten Bentz and her husband John, his in-laws Phil and Nancy Decker, 2 brother-in-laws Sean Decker and his wife Jessie and Stephen Decker and several nieces and nephews.

Steve was very respected and well liked by many of his peers in the Manville, Bound Brook and Somerville Fire Departments where he served.

Steve joined Manville Fire Company Number 1 in June of 1995.  During his time as member, Steve was very involved in all aspects of both Company operations and Department activities.  He was a Company Trustee and a Trustee to the Manville Relief Association.  He served as Lieutenant in 2004 and was one of our Head Apparatus Drivers for many years until he became ill.  In 2009, Steve became a member of the Exempt Association.  He later became a Life Member of the company in 2010.

Steve was also a member of Bound Brook Fire Department Engine Company Number 1 from 2005 - 2009.  In 2010 he joined the Lincoln Hose Company of the Somerville Fire Department before he became ill.

He was a member of Manville's softball team in the Somerset County Fireman's League from 1995 - 2007 and with the Millstone Valley Fire Department team from 2008 - 2010.  Steve was the teams first baseman and helped lead Manville to the league championship in 2002 and Millstone Valley in 2008.  He was also a member of the company bowling team from 2005-2008.  His bowling antics were always a laugh for our team.  Steve was always there to help wherever and whenever people needed him.  He will be sadly missed by us all.

Prayers will be said at 9 AM on Tuesday at the Bruce C. VanArsdale Funeral Home, 111 N. Gaston Avenue, Somerville (908-725-3311) followed by a 10AM mass of Christian burial at Immaculate Conception Church, 35 Mountain Avenue, Somerville.  Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery in Bridgewater.

Visitation will be 2-4PM and 6-9PM on Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Kelsey Fund c/o Steven Runyon, 34 Warren Street, Somerville, NJ 08876.