Steve Lopez Jr

Steve Lopez Jr passed away May 26, 2021. He was born August 23, 1953 in East Chicago to Steve and Mary Lopez. Steve was a proud veteran of the US Air Force. Following the military, he continued his service to his country in East Tennessee as a Special Agent with the Department of Energy and National Nuclear Security Administration. For 35 years, Steve covertly supported the critical missions of America’s nuclear weapons enterprise. His skill level was best seen on the evening of September 11, 2001, when the US Government chartered a plane from an undisclosed location to fly Steve and his team back to the Tennessee Valley. On that evening his plane was one of only a few in the sky above our country. Following his retirement as a Federal Agent, Steve chose to further his service as an armor with UNWIN, where he worked with teams to test security at all of the nation’s nuclear power plants. He continued this until May 12, 2021. A living embodiment of selfless service, Steve humbly worked to serve others until the very end.

If Steve wasn’t shooting guns, he was shooting pictures. An avid photographer, Steve’s greatest gift to everyone was the thousands of photos he took throughout his life. Each of these snapshots left behind a beautiful glimpse of the world through his eyes. His love for photography was only outweighed by his love for his family. Steve was a proud husband, father and grandfather. He never missed a chance to cheer on the Tennessee Vols, Chicago Cubs & Chicago Bears and was happiest when he got to watch his family participate in athletics.

Steve’s family wishes to extend a sincere thank you to Dr. Keith Gray, Dr. Antony Charles and the entire staff at the University of Tennessee Cancer Institute for their efforts and support over the past 5 years.

Preceded in death by his father, Esteban Lopez, and brother, Daniel Lopez.

He is survived by:
Loving wife of 39 years, Teresa Lopez; son Matthew Lopez & wife Amanda; daughter Christina Leach & husband Jason; mother Mary Lopez; brothers David Lopez & wife Liz and Robert Lopez & wife Helen; sisters Sylvia Bonham & husband Bill, Mary Dziepak & husband Terry and Diana Lopez & husband Tim; his 10 nieces and nephews; and most importantly, his pride and joy, his four grandchildren Jase Leach, Matthew Leach, Nora Lopez and Elliott Lopez.

Visitation: 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM, Friday, May 28, 2021 at Second Baptist Church in Clinton, Tennessee.
Funeral Service: 7:30 PM, Friday, May 28, 2021 at Second Baptist Church in Clinton with Pastor Michael Thompson officiating.
Family and Friends will meet at 10:30 AM at Hatmaker Funeral Home on Saturday, May 29, 2021 to go in procession to Foust Cemetery in Lake City, Tennessee for an 11:00 AM graveside service with Military Honors presented by the Campbell County Honor Guard.