Steven John Haight

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Steven John Haight, who passed away after a long, courageous fight with pancreatic cancer on July 21, 2025 at the age of 63. Born December 22, 1961 in Spokane, WA to Scott and Betty Haight, he was the youngest of five children. Steve was strong-willed and stubborn at times but also had an enormous heart and wonderful sense of humor.

Steve's family relocated to southern California from Washington state when he was very young. He attended elementary, junior high and high school in Agoura, California. He graduated by the skin of his teeth in 1980 from Agoura High School. As a child, Steve played soccer and baseball. He was also very involved in Boy Scouts from an early age, where he went on to attain the highest honor of Eagle Scout.

Steve spent his entire career working in the field of water distribution; first for Los Virgenes Municipal Water District, then the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. In 1991 he relocated to the Spokane area. He worked for United Plumbing in Spokane for a short time, and in 1992 was hired by the City of Cheney Water Department, where he worked for 31 years, until retiring December 31, 2023.

Steve met his loving wife, Karen Spinarski and her young daughter Krysta in the fall of 1989.  Together they moved to Freeman, WA in 1991. They moved to Cheney in April 1992 and were married in August of that year. They welcomed their son, Logan in 1993. Steve was a loving husband to Karen, his wife of 34 years, a caring father to Krysta and Logan, and a cherished Papa to Zoey, Cameron, Carlee and Riley. He was a great brother and very loyal friend. 

Next to his devotion and love for his family, was his never-ending love for Jeeps. His love for Jeeps started early with his father’s 1962 Willy’s Wagon. He bought his first Jeep in 1978, and that started the obsession that lasted until he passed. He left behind his last project, a 1972 Jeep Commando. He was so knowledgeable of Jeeps and their history, that his family referred to him as the “Jeep Encyclopedia.” Steve loved adventuring in his Jeep, whether wheeling high up on a mountain trail, climbing the red sandstone of the Utah desert, or playing in the Montana mud. He was always happy from the seat of his Jeep. When he wasn’t out jeeping, camping, hunting, or working, Steve could be found in his shop. He loved to tinker and fix things and always had more projects going than one can imagine, but he always seemed to get around to them. Steve was also an incredible story-teller from early on in life. He often embellished details to make them sound more interesting and funny. His stories were well-told and got many laughs from his listeners. He was a master yard-saler and Facebook Marketplace guru, always looking for a good deal. He had a great knack for finding things cheap that he could fix, then turn around and sell them for more than twice the price. Another of Steve’s greatest pleasures was the family property in Montana. When he was young, his family would drive from California to vacation there yearly. Steve shared his love of Montana with his own family and many friends over the years; camping, four-wheeling, hunting, fishing, relaxing in the creek, or listening to his stories by the campfire. It was his place to escape, his “happy place.”  

Steve leaves behind his beloved wife Karen Haight, daughter Krysta Swanger (Scott), son Logan Haight (Kayla), grandchildren Zoey, Cameron, Carlee and Riley, his loyal black lab Monty, sisters Lonnie Koch (Richard), Debbie Moore (Rick), Cindy Wood (Jeff), sisters-in-law Susan Leadley, Cassandra Anderson, brother-in-law Scott Spinarski, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Scott Haight (2022) and Betty Haight (2018), and brother Scott H. Haight (2012). He will be truly missed by those who knew him.

A memorial service will take place at Fairmount Memorial Park’s Sunset Chapel

Saturday, August 16, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.

5200 W. Wellesley Avenue, Spokane, WA 99205