Stephen Max Melonuk

Stephen Max Melonuk

April 15, 1951 – December 31, 2022

On Friday, December 31, 2022, Stephen Max Melonuk, husband, father, brother, and friend to many, unexpectedly passed away at home.  He was born April 15, 1951,  in Pittsburgh, PA.  A son of the late Stephen and Katherine (Nodd) Melonuk.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Patricia Allison.  Steve is survived by his wife Victoria (Vicky) Melonuk; and daughters Melissa, Amy, and Kelly (Doug Shirer) Melonuk; his sisters Alice Rock and Donna (Ed) Garczewski, and his grandsons Alexander, Stephen, Maxwell and Mathew Shirer;  and his granddaughter Myla Shirer. He was the owner of Steve’s Auto Body in North Huntingdon, where he resided until moving to West Newton.  He was a big personality that enjoyed traveling.  Steve was known to many for his custom hot rods and motorcycles and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  Friends will be received 2 to 4pm and 6 to 8pm Wednesday  at the JOSEPH W. NICKELS FUNERAL HOME INC., 404 Sewickley Ave., Herminie, PA 15637, 724-446-7251, a funeral mass will be celebrated at 11am Thursday St. Edward Church, Herminie, PA 15637.  PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO CHURCH.  To send online condolences, please visit www.nickelsfuneralhomeinc.com. 

Steve was known for his big personality and contagious laughter.  Described by his wife Vicky as having “itchy feet” he was always seeking his next adventure.  

Riding his wife Vicky on their Harley Davidson to Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for 10 years in a row was his way of spending their 50’s.  Trips on their bike to Daytona and other rallies has provided his family with a lot of memorabilia from their travels.  Las Vegas trips, where his wife Vicky enjoyed gambling, Steve made certain they visited all the beauty surrounding Las Vegas such as Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and the Hoover Dam.  Steve enjoyed his family in Detroit, the Polizzi’s (Andy, Jeannine, Paula, Joey, and Andrew), and he would drive one of his custom hot rods annually to attend the Woodward Car Cruises and enjoy the lake.  Steve also cruised with the Hot Rod Power Tour over five years (2003,2005, 2007, 2008, 2009).  In 2007 he took his then younger grandson Alex on the tour, and in 2008 had his nephew Shawn Rock join him.  Shawn definitely has some funny tales about that trip and Alex enjoyed the travels and cruises to Texas.  Steve enjoyed being a grandfather and took his grandsons Alex and Stephen to Disney World many times, also vacationing at Daytona Beach.  

Owning Steve’s Auto Body in North Huntingdon, Steve’s passion and talent for restoring and custom painting hot rods and motorcycles had provided him many “Best of Show” at the World of Wheels Car Show in Pittsburgh.  Steve’s talent for painting also won him a Top Gun Grand Prize with Dupont, being featured in the Dupont June 1994 calendar for the “Bad Gas” Angola he painted for his longtime friend Scott Eckrich.  It is not uncommon to see a hot rod or motorcycle that was painted by Steve in North Huntingdon and surrounding area car shows.

Steve enjoyed his family and a good time so it was natural for him to have and attend parties.  Steve’s sister-in-law Cathy (Dzuricko) and her husband Ernie Pisarcik lived in the same neighborhood; they often would get together for game nights when young parents.  Cathy and Alex’s “5 and 50” birthday party was attended by many.  He also hosted Halloween parties, attended neighborhood Christmas parties and fourth of July. Irwin Car Cruises, Swap Meets at Carlisle, Keystone drag racing his Vega, and concerts (Cher, Rolling Stones, and the King and his court), and family vacations to Florida are just a few of the ways Steve enjoyed his time with family.  

Looking back at his life he definitely made memories for those he loved.  His light burnt out too soon, but it sure did shine over the years. 

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