Steven Allen Klauke, 69, passed away surrounded by his family early Tuesday morning, June 11, 2024, due to injuries sustained from an auto-pedestrian accident.
Steve recently retired from being the Salt Lake Bees’ broadcaster after calling 4,181 games over 29 seasons. He also enjoyed being the radio voice of Weber State University football and men’s basketball for the past 9 years. Steve was a three-time Utah Sportscaster of the Year winner (‘95, ‘14, ‘16) and Ballpark Digest’s Minor League Baseball National Broadcaster of the Year in 2014.
He had a passion for sports and play by play and fulfilled his lifelong dream of being called up to the big leagues when he was asked to fill in for a couple games by the Toronto Blue Jays and as well as the Los Angeles Angels. He also filled in to do play by play for the Utah Jazz, University of Utah, BYU, and Utah Grizzlies over his career, along with various local high school sports games.
The only thing Steve loved more than sports was his family. He enjoyed spending time with his wife and two kids sharing his passion of storytelling, taking them to the new Triple Ds restaurant in town, traveling or helping them plan their own trips and watching sports together.
Steve was adored by many, as he had the ability to make everyone feel loved and important over the years. He always had time to stop and talk to a neighbor on his daily walks, a fan at a game, or a stranger on the street. He truly impacted everyone he interacted with.
Steve is survived by his wife Sue, son Adam, and daughter Lisa; his mother Donna, brothers Jeff and Glenn, sister Cynthia, and nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life open house will be held Monday, June 17, 2024, from 5:00pm-7:00pm at Le Jardin at 1910 E Dimple Dell Road (10600 S). In lieu of flowers please donate to the Humane Society of Utah, the Christmas Box house, or any charity close to your heart.
I am so sad for your loss. I considered Steve a friend and he always had the most beautiful smile to share with me whenever we saw each other. He will be missed, and I'm a better person for having known him. Love to your family.
This is difficult to understand…. Steve we’ll miss you. Your friendship, stories and jokes. A quality human, and professional who painted the picture of every time he was behind the mic. Rest easy my friend!🙏
Boler
Man, this one hurts. We're all so lucky to have had Steve's influence in our sports lives. His calls will forever live in my mind. Peace to your family.
I am so sorry to learn of the passing of Steve. He was not just a great play by play announcer, he was a great guy. My interactions with him were only a few over the years, but each time he treated me like a life-long friend. I pray that his friends and family will feel comfort and peace and joy for his life.
I grew up with Steve in Winnetka. We played sports including baseball, tennis and others. Great guy and a true friend. He was one of the very few people I know who went on to make a living out of a childhood passion, ie sports broadcasting. Proud of that for him.
Always fun to be around he reconnected with me in Reno when came to town with the Bees.
My condolences to his family.
Sue, I am so sorry for your loss. Steve was a special friend and I always enjoyed our rides to the visiting hotel after games there in Salt Lake. Steve never made it seem like it was an imposition. I'll never forget the first time I met Steve in Portland (1993), when he called some games for the Beavers, before they moved to Salt Lake. I'll always remember Steve as a good friend and genuine person. My prayers are with you and your family.
-Dan
Steve was a genuinely nice person and I always enjoyed the chats we'd have when he was out walking Holly, or then random texts when he ran across something he thought I might fine interesting. My heart is broken for his loved ones who have lost a good husband, father, son, and friend. We will all miss his great stories and (mostly) clever puns. I hope you feel the outpouring of love and support from all the people whose lives he touched in some way.
Thoughts and prayers for you're family. Steve was an amazing person. I enjoyed talking with him at the ballpark or the arena. Never had a negative thing to say about anyone. He will be missed.
Thoughts and prayers for you're family. Steve was an amazing person. I enjoyed talking with him at the ballpark or the arena. Never had a negative thing to say about anyone. He will be missed.
My condolences to you all. I knew Steve from 1994 buzz where I was the manager and Steve was in his first year.The small time that I was with him I considered myself lucky to have him. He was a true gentleman and tried to learn as much as possible about baseball. He did his job with class and dignity and will be truly missed by all. A class act all the way! RIP
Steve was one of the nicest people I know. I worked with him at the Bees and he didn't care what anyone's job was or their 'status' - Steve was friendly to everyone. When he would get back from road games, I could always count on him telling me a few good jokes in story form and giving his foodie report on what was the best, worst and strangest foods he encountered during his road trip. Often times we would come up with a word like "enchanted" or "homecoming", any word he wouldn't normally use in describing baseball and Steve would fit it in somewhere during his announcing of the game. I loved seeing his creativity in how he would use our random chosen words. He had the most amazing memory, and he could recall facts from games 30 years ago! He had such a talent but more importantly he genuinely loved and cared about people. He spoke so fondly and proudly of his kids and wife. I'm so sorry for your great loss. Steve was a great man and was taken too soon, he will be dearly missed.
Thoughts and prayers to the entire Klauke family.
I went to grammar school with Steve and have fond memories of going to several Cubs and Sox games with him. He had a wonderful command of baseball statistics. So glad he was able to realize his childhood dream of being a sports broadcaster.
May his memory be a blessing.
Steve was someone I admired and respected. I never met anyone who felt differently. It was always a good day when you got to talk with him. His was a friendship I'll always treasure.
It a very sad day when a person like Steve Klauke is taken from his family and friends
His passion and zest for life will be missed by everyone he came in contact with
One of the nicest guys I have ever met
We had the privilege of knowing Steve for some 45 years. We will be eternally grateful as he introduced us back in 1980 and God has blessed us with 43 years of marriage since. John worked with Steve at radio station WKZN Zion/Kenosha where Steve was sports director marvelously calling "zee bee" basketball games and preparing him for greater things to come. We keep Karen's beloved sister Sue, Nephew Adam, Niece Lisa in our continuing thoughts and prayers after this incredibly tragic loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss .steve was a great person as a broadcaster . He never a bad thing to say about coaches or player.He was always upfront in his comments about the game .He will be missed as as a friend and a broadcaster.He was the best of the best.. Sorry to miss the celebration of his life.My family is having a get together at the same time.
My self and all of us in the Bees pressbox were stunned and saddened by the loss of Steve. He was a joy to hear on the radio and in person conversations before and after the games. Our deepest condolences to his family. He will be deeply missed.
I had the pleasure of playing for the Bees for parts of 3 seasons, 09’-12’. Steve and I had many conversations and he quickly became a friend. Which is not so common between player and broadcaster. I’ll miss his voice and gentle spirit. We all were so lucky to have him there in the booth. I hope his family truly knows how much he meant to so many of us. God speed Steve
Steve was the first friend I made when I transferred to Skokie Junior high School way back in the day
We became fast Friends and we would play one-on-one basketball , one-on-one hockey , and double headers of home run derby.
and he would announce our games as we played them !
His father referred to us as
Alphonse & Gaston ,sadly, we thought it was a compliment.....
Steve was a great talent , tremendous friend and confidant and moreover an incredible contributor to the world around him.
baseball will miss him ......basketball will miss him .....as well as...
the rest of us ..
Rest in peace my friend...
Adam- my deepest condolences to you and your family (from your Delta friends/family).
Was blessed to have spent the entire 2023 season with Klauke. I only knew him for one year which was enough to build a lasting friendship that I will always cherish. Loved listening to the detail in his stories and how much he loved delivering them. My heart goes out to his family, especially his wife whom I wish I had gotten the chance to meet. He was as much a part of the game as anyone that has ever put on a uniform. Smiths Ballpark and the Bees will forever feel empty without him.
How Stephen remembered the names of so many of his friends and colleagues was amazing. He treated me as a personal friend and he was my main draw to the Bees games, one of the best callers in the business. He could have gone to MLB but wanted to stay in Utah. He will leave a void in the community.
Slam it out of the ballpark Steve and win one for the Gipper. Farewell my friend.
Words are hard to come by when you lose a friend, mentor, and professional colleague. Steve was the consummate professional while the mic was hot, but such a funny character during break. I will miss his in-depth knowledge of the game and his vast amount of stories from a career so rare. My heart is heavy with grief and my thoughts go out to Sue and the family.
Thank you Steve for the years and opportunity to work together at Sports Radio 570. You were a class act and were always willing to help out with appearances and to accommodate our advertisers. Whether it was at the ballpark to watch you do the play by play or in studio. I'll miss your one liner jokes. I don't know how you could come up with those puns so fast. Talent that's all I can say.
I also would like to wish Sue and the family peace in your heart and comfort for God above and thanks for sharing Steve with all of us.
I am just shocked! I think a lot about the good times I had producing Sports Talk with Dave Blackwell, Steve Klauke, and Ron Boone on Sports Radio 570. Steve was a professional and made things easy for those working around him. Steve, you will be missed!
I am saddened and heartbroken to hear this tragic news Steve klauke was a class act and someone I really looked up
To when I was breaking into broadcasting every time I thanked him his reply “you did it on ur own.” But his encouragement to a young broadcaster looking for his first opportunity meant so much to me it made me work harder to develop a passion for my trade and it wouldn’t have been possible without him thank u sir for all ur help and encouragement it gave me the confidence I needed to succeed in such a precarious business God Bless and rest in peace
Adam and Family, My deepest condolence to you . Gone to soon!
As an Angels season ticket holder I listen to Steve’s play by play and colorful commentary. He deserved the Angels broadcasting Job! Each time the Bees played in Vegas he and I would meet in the stadium dining room and swap stories. RIP friend
Sorry to hear of Steve's passing - lived around the corner from him in Winnetka - we used to ride the same bus to New Trier West - he was a kind soul and fun to be around
RIP
I was a fellow Pacific Coast League broadcaster in the Buzz’s inaugural season. Steve had me in stitches from the first minute. “Could teenager Alex Rodriguez be the greatest shortstop since Honus Wagner? Well, he’s already better than Leon Wagner.”
I knew that every time the Calgary Cannons traveled to Salt Lake or vice versa, I’d be treated to 4 days of profound baseball knowledge coupled with a dry and original sense of humor. Steve was a kind and generous man who always had time to impart wisdom to a young broadcaster, for which I’ll always be grateful.
During some of the darkest times in my life you were always there. Many conversations in the middle of the night. You were always so good to Jackson and I. We had some great times with the Flash and the Bees.
Rest Easy my friend.
I love you , Klauke.
Sue and Family hang in there ! He was the best !
Steve was a regular speaker at our school's Career Week. We are both from Chicago and shared many memories of the Cubs, Sox, Bulls, and Black Hawks. Steve never failed to impress the students and faculty with his play-by-play technique. He always joked that he had a 4.00 GPA in high school, 1.00 Freshman year, 1.00 Sophomore year, etc. Steve even did a special play-by-play for one of our faculty who had a son as a pitcher on a baseball team. Steve always had a smile and something good to say. We will miss him at Provo Canyon School.