"I met Steve through Dagny when we were Freshmen living at Ann Emery Hall in the fall of 1956. We constantly crossed paths through activities, parties, double dating with the ultimate double date being a member of their wedding party in December, 1960. I always admired Steve's sense of humor, his love for history and especially his love for Dagny. Although we live about 2000 miles apart, we have never lost touch. On my last visit to Madison I stayed with Steve and Dagny and had a wonderful time exploring the nature spots they so loved. Steve was a wonderful and interesting human being who will be missed by all. "
In loving memory of
Stephen A. Myrah
February 6, 2013
Middleton-Stephen Arant Myrah died of heart disease on February 6. Steve was a true lover of life, and all that it had to offer. Despite health limitations in the past few years, Steve continued to enjoy fishing off bridges in the local trout streams, reading the NY Times daily cover to cover, painting miniature soldiers, watching the many birds from Pheasant Branch who visited his bird feeders and most of all socializing with his many friends. He never forgot an historical fact or favorite line of poetry. Of course he loved the Badgers and Packers and most of all, his wife Dagny, his two daughters and their families.
Steve was born June 10, 1938 in Cedar Rapids Iowa, to Leslie Donald Myrah and Gertrude Arant Myrah. He lived in Iowa, Nebraska and New Jersey before moving to Milwaukee in 1955 where he graduated in 1956 from Milwaukee University School (now USM). Steve received a BS in History Cum Laude, with Honors from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. On December 27, 1960 he married Dagny Quisling. After he received a MS in History in June 1961 from the UW, he and Dagny left to spend two years in the US Army, at New Cumberland Army Depot, Harrisburg, PA. Following his military stint, Steve and Dagny returned to Madison, and Steve worked part-time in the university's financial aid office while enrolled in the doctoral program in higher education administration. The part-time job turned into a full-time position, but Steve completed his doctorate while working his way up to assistant director of student financial services. In 1992 he took over the position of Secretary of the Academic Affairs. For Steve this was a dream job.
Steve was politically active as a founding member of the Madison Academic Staff Association, and served as the first president; served on the Student Personnel Association Board and Academic Staff Executive Committee (ASEC President 1989 and ASEC Chair, 1991-92.) Steve retired in 2000 after more than 40 years of walking the campus. He received an appointment to emeritus status for 34 years of distinguished service to the UW. In retirement he was active in the UW Retirement Association, served many years on the Porchlight Board and as a member of the Downtown Kiwanis since 2001. He organized several luncheon and breakfast groups of retired friends, who will miss his monthly reminder calls. He and Dagny loved to travel, but also enjoyed picnics in the natural beauty of Wisconsin.
Steve is survived by his wife of 52 years, Dagny, daughter Andrea Davies (John) and their children, Olivia, Max and Phoebe (Evanston, IL) and daughter Leslie Portu (Matthew) and their children Jacqui, Gabby, Conor and Deirdre (Ann Arbor, MI). Steve was preceded in death by his parents and brother, John Barry Myrah.
The family will hold a private burial. On March 15 friends are invited to attend a memorial gathering at the Blackhawk Country Club from 2 to 5 PM. Contributions may be made in Steve's name to the Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy, P.O. Box 628242, Middleton, WI 53562-8242 or to the Scholarship fund at UW-Madison. Checks should be made out to: UW Foundation, US Bank lockbox #78807, Milwaukee, WI 53278-0807.
Tributes
"I remember the first time Steve took me fishing on Knob Creek. We never left the house, but were still Lucky we didn't drown. "
"Steve was an old friend, a dear friend, the gentleman my friend Dagny married. He and my husband, David, became friends. This does not always happen. Steve poured a good scotch, told a great naughty story, and loved to listen to stories....a rare man. His love of toy lead soldiers came as a surprise. He hand-painted scores of them and displayed them at the house. Not too long ago I gave him my collection of very old toy soldiers. He spent hours tracing their origins and lovingly housed them with his own collection. I'm sure they were delighted with their new home, delighted to live with the 'General.' So, we lift our glasses of good scotch to 'the General' and know that he's still with us. "
"Steve and Dagny have been close friends since we all started college at Madison in the fall of 1956. Our times together spanned college, ROTC summer camp at Fort Riley, an Army tour, graduate school, several ski outings to Telemark and a rustic cabin on Diamond Lake, and many other outings with mutual friends. As others have commented, I, too, was always amazed at Steve's grasp of history, politics and current events, especially the Civil War and other details of military history. Whatever you mentioned, Steve could usually provide elaboration (or correction!). Steve had a great sense of humor and, with prompting, could provide a likeness of an angry dog bark that would part a crowd. He was also responsible for exposing me to the evils of drink --- especially vodka gimlets (served from pewter pitchers during Dagny and Steve's engagement party) and Rum Barbancourt, which he plied me with at another party and caused me to have a run-in with a poorly-placed croquet court. I learned to be wary of Steve's invitations to share a "wee dram." Steve was a special friend, loved by all."
"My heart goes out to Dagny and family. Steve was a great friend to my family. I met Steve through my parents. Steve, Dagny and many of their friends would party often at our home in Madison. In the late 60's, I was the entertainment during some of the parties. They loved to listen and sing along with me while I played my guitar. I felt so appreciated as a young teenager. Years later, I especially loved one of the nights I came over to Dagny and Steve's house for lime chicken on the grill. The wine was generously poured while Steve marinated the chicken in fresh limes and olive oil. He was a wonderful grillmeister. I will miss seeing Steve at the annual Grace Chosey art gallery openings for Dagny's beautiful oil paintings. I own many of them and suppose that I can visit many of the places he loved to go just by looking at the paintings (View from Ferry Bluff, The Raft, etc.). I offer my deepest symphathy to the Myrah Family. May fond memories of Steve live in your hearts for many years to come."
"Steve was a good and gentle soul."
"Steve has been a part of my life for 35 years. I met him the first week I worked at UW-Madison and could count on him being there at every milestone as academic staff earned respect and governance rights. If something needed to be done, he did it. Stick labels on 6000 newsletters, advocate the UW's positions with the legislature, or plan a picnic just for fun. He never shied away from the hard stuff, always knowing when to "saddle up the men and draw a firm line." And he did it with humor. The best part of boring meetings was sitting next to Steve to hear his whispered quips. I will miss him deeply and wish him Godspeed. "
"Steve died just days before the UW basketball team, still unranked in national surveys, beat Michigan, a top ranked team, in overtime. Some higher power, besides Coach Bo Ryan, must be watching over the Badgers. The win over Michigan took a last second shot from near half court just to get the game into overtime. It was the kind of game that Steve said, just before one of his surgeries, caused his blood pressure to rise. Other memories of Steve include walleye fishing. Bringing a walleye to the boat demands a gentle touch. Steve accomplished that while humming parts from symphonies, but I did not always recognize which one. "
"Steve was a wonderful father in-law and loving grandfather to my four children. He was so smart, so genuine, so kind; I will miss him a great deal. I don't have a specific story to share, but here are a few of my fondest memories: Sharing an Old Fashion on the back deck. Listening to Steve recount amazingly obscure historical facts. Helping Steve with the grill after we both had had too much to drink. Steve's incredible optimism that a cure would be found for my daughter Gabby. Steve's incredible pessimism that the Badgers could hold onto a lead, no matter how large. Watching my kids smile at the toy trains Steve assembled under the Christmas tree. Dining on Steve's "Iowa Chicken". Steve's love of reading and how quickly he could devour a new book. And finally, seemingly endless discussions of the Badgers "chances" in the upcoming game or season. What a great guy! "