Steven L. Kittelson, age 52, of Isanti passed away July 20, 2026 at M. Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center-East Bank. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, July 24th at Transform Church, 1657 161st Ave NW, Andover. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery, Weber, at 1:45 P.M.
Steven Lorne Kittelson was born to Lorne and Barbara Kittelson at Cambridge Medical Center on August 21, 1973. Steve was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in North Branch. In 1992, he graduated from Cambridge-Isanti High School.
From the start of his life, Steve was always on the move, whether in motion or at rest; one can’t help but wonder if God whispered in Steve’s ear that his time would be short and that he needed to make the most of it.
In February 2013, Steve would prove that theory when he met Misty Rootes for a coffee date at a local Caribou in the early afternoon, which continued at a nearby Arby’s for dinner later that evening. Over the next two years, Misty and Steve would bond over laughter, their mutual love of the outdoors, and their faith in God. Each one met the other where they were, and on September 12, 2015, Steve and Misty were married in an outdoor wedding.
Few men would willingly assume the responsibility of being a stepparent to any child, but Steve did. Twists and turns happened for the blended family, but their love for one another and their faith did not waver. They kept on, no matter what came their way.
In the fall of 2022, after losing both of his parents within weeks of each other, Steve, Misty, and the girls moved into his childhood home with their two dogs, Gus and Axel. The family also acquired Steve’s parents’ dog, Shadow. Despite all these changes, Misty and Steve embraced country life, acquired chickens, and began selling eggs. Within a year or two, Steve became employed with Stepp Manufacturing in Sunrise, Minnesota in their shipping and receiving department.
Things were going well. Mackenzie married her fiancé Joeven on May 30, 2026. On that date, Steve was complaining of back pain and was unable to participate in the wedding procession. After two clinic visits it was determined that Steve had a fungal infection called blastomycosis. Steve was admitted to the hospital in Wyoming, Minnesota. It was believed that Steve’s condition was improving until he suffered a cardiac event and was transferred to Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina.
Steve was transferred again a few days later to M. Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center-East Bank and connected to a heart and lung ECMO machine to allow his lungs to heal from the blastomycosis. After two cardiac events, which occurred at Southdale, antifungals were used to eradicate the blastomycosis from his body. Variations of this treatment continued for more than two weeks as infectious disease and cardiac doctors did their best to improve Steve’s condition. Despite the medical teams’ valiant efforts and constant prayer from loved ones, Steve’s condition did not improve. Every medical course of action was taken, but the blastomycosis continued to mercilessly ravage his lungs, while the antifungal intended to treat his condition was battering his liver into dysfunction. Unfortunately, this is a known side effect of this medication. A balance could not be found to restore his body’s health. Steve went home to Jesus on July 20, 2026.
Steve is survived by his wife, Misty Kittelson; stepdaughters, Mackenzie (Joeven) and Abigail; brother, Scott; sister, Sherri; uncles, Doug (Vicdan) and Gene; parent-in laws, Randy and Leanda Cross; brother-in-law, Heath (Jill) Cross; nephews, Trent and Jesse and niece, Hannah. Steve was preceded in death by his father, Lorne Kittelson; his mother, Barbara Kittelson; one sister; his maternal grandparents, Wilbert and Lillian Wiese; his paternal grandparents, Carl and Genevieve Kittelson; and his aunt, Dawn Kittelson.
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