Steven George Joki
Dec. 4, 1954-Dec. 23, 2023
Palo Alto, California

We lost a very special person when Steven George Joki passed on December 23, 2023. Steve, the first son of Esther and George Joki, was born on December 4, 1956, in Idaho Falls, ID. Steve grew up in Palo Alto and attended school at Ortega Elementary, Wilbur Junior High School, and graduated from Cubberley High School in 1973. During his school years he was involved in Boy Scouts, track and field - breaking Regional Athletic and school records running the 8/80 and 4/40, and he learned how to fix everything and anything on a car, which turned out to be a very helpful skill. While working in construction, he also attended college, ultimately earning his B.S. in Geology from Cal State Hayward (now California State University East Bay). He also dabbled in electrical and mechanical engineering and utilized these skills in his construction business, Steve Joki Custom Woodworking.

One thing that certainly can be said about Steve -- he felt most at home with nature and the outdoors. His early days were spent roaming with friends at Foothill Park, the beach, and at Boy Scout camps. Growing up, his family had always taken camping vacations, and Steven developed into an avid backpacker who came to excel at anything involving the outdoors. There was first downhill, then cross country skiing, biking, surfing, sailing, kayaking, and rock, mountain and ice climbing. Not only did he climb Mt. Hood, Mt. Shasta and peaks throughout Yosemite numerous times, but his climbing adventures took him to the Rockies, Sierras, numerous Canadian ranges, Nepal and the Andes. If he wasn’t climbing, he could be found surfing from anywhere from Morro Bay to Half Moon Bay and even in Australia.

When he wasn’t being adventurous, he worked as a contractor. He was a master carpenter and woodworker, building beautiful furniture and rooms. There was nothing he couldn’t do with crafting wood, and he even became an accomplished luthier, making electric and acoustic guitars for friends and himself. He played them all, too, and well.

Most of all, Steve was a quiet, caring, decent and loving man, and in spite of any personal challenges he faced in his own life, he would do anything within his power for family and friends. And he never gave up trying to make his life better. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Soonthara Hayes, siblings Kathy, David, and Patricia, brothers-in-law Rezki Boumoula and Robert Webster, and nieces Kenza, Kaylee, and Elena.