Steven Bruce Thorn, 59, who died on September 3, 2011 at Spring Valley Hospital in Las Vegas, was a high school teacher and coach who worked to inspire his students yet also relished every opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.


Steve was passionate about making a difference in the lives of students in his more than thirty years as a social studies teacher and baseball, football and wrestling coach. Students he taught in South Dakota and in Pahrump, Nevada remember him as a mentor "who inspired us to work harder" and "made us laugh." He received Teacher of the Year awards and students dedicated a yearbook in his honor. He adventured out of teaching for two years when he owned and served as executive pizza-maker at the Powderhorn, a local Lemmon pizzeria.


He liked to coach and entertain grandkids but lived for weekends when he could hunt and fish. He enjoyed trips to South Dakota to be outdoors with friends and family and hunted and fished in all seasons, in below-zero temperatures for animals of all sizes, from quail to deer. He could spot an animal from what seemed like a hundred yards away. Trips to hunt bear in Arizona and fish in Canada fulfilled two lifelong ambitions. He remained an avid outdoorsman as he fought cancer in recent years.


Steve was born on October 1, 1951 to the late Steven and Frances (Kachelhoffer) Thorn in Rapid City, SD. He played baseball, including pony league and with the 1964 Harney Little League All-Star team. He graduated from Central High School in 1969, served in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam conflict, and then earned his teaching degree from Black Hills State College in 1979. Steve married Jody Sackmann in 1984 in Lemmon, SD where they lived before relocating to Arizona in 1998 and Nevada in 2000.


Besides his wife, Jody, he is survived by his mother, Frances Thorn of Colorado Springs, CO; daughters (of former spouse, Jane Rossum), Jacqui (Clint) Dietrich of Denver, Stephanie Thorn of Tonasket, WA, Heather (Jeff) Hubach of Thornton, CO; son, Zachary (Tami) Thorn of Pahrump, NV; step-daughter, Abby (Jeff) Encinas of Pahrump, NV; sister, Sherry (Bruce) Sherrill of Colorado Springs, CO; the Rudy and Elsie Sackmann family of Lemmon, SD; and grandchildren, Dorian, Daevin, Isaiah, Julianna, Brenden, Jacob, Keely and Chanel.


In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (www.nfwf.org) or Pahrump Valley High School – Coach Thorn Scholarship and can be sent to Attn: Thorn Family, 1331 Blackhorn, Pahrump, NV 89048.


A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at Pahrump Valley High School football field.


The Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, SD with Pastor Charlotte Kvale, officiating. Full military honors will be afforded by the Brattvet-Green American Legion Post #66 of Lemmon. Following the funeral service, cremation will take place and burial will be in Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon.


Special music will be provided by Steve Sandgren, soloist.


Serving as casketbearers are Josh Sackmann, Joe Sackmann, Andrew Sackmann, Mark Thorn, David Thorn, Steven Sherrill, Josh Sherrill, and Rob Sherrill. Steve's fishing, hunting and golfing buddies and his coaching colleagues are considered honorary bearers.


Visitation will be on Saturday at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Sunday one hour prior to services at Calvary Lutheran Church.

A Family Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evening at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.