Stephen Wayne Boxler

Anchorage resident Stephen Wayne Boxler, 54, passed away in October 2020 with his beloved wife and daughter at his side. He was much too young and left us much too soon. Steve was born in Garden City, Kansas where he attended Olathe South High School and Johnson County Community College. While studying at the University of Kansas, he met and successfully wooed his future bride. Nancy Taylor and Steve Boxler were married in June of 1990, and they have been a united team ever since. They shared a deeply loving commitment built on a foundation of common values, and celebrated 30 years of marriage this summer. In 1993 the couple moved to Fairbanks, where Steve finished his Bachelors of Science in Accounting at UAF. He held a variety of jobs over the years, from a fine dining waiter to house painter. He spent the final decade of his career as a senior accountant for GCI. Steve’s most important job, by far, was as the father of Lia YuLin Grace Boxler. Most men are lucky to have one great love in their life, but in Lia, Steve found his second. Steve and Nancy adopted Lia as an infant from the Chongqing Province of China, and their family was finally complete. Steve spent the first years of Lia’s life as a stay-at-home dad and popular preschool volunteer. He was a gentle, patient father and fiercely protective of his daughter. He loved nothing more than watching Lia grace a dance stage or dive on the volleyball court, never missing a single performance or game. Nancy was Steve’s rock, and Lia was his smile. He was, quite simply, their world. Steve was a master chef, card shark, and devoted fan of the New England Patriots. He was tech savvy and always the first to master new gadgets and software. He loved board games, and was impossible to beat at Trivial Pursuit. He greatly admired his parents’ creative talents, which led him to explore a passion of his own: photography. He had a gifted eye; nature looks even more beautiful when captured through his lens. His photos adorn walls of friends and family all over the country. We hope Steve is now in a place where he can relax, finally free from ALS, and listen to Norah Jones or binge watch the 2017 Superbowl. Many hearts are broken at the loss of this humble, hard-working family man. In addition to his wife Nancy and daughter Lia, Steve is survived by his parents Wayne and Karen Boxler; brother and sister-in-law Len and Mary Liz Boxler and their children Dan and Marlee Boxler and Zak Boxler; sister-in-law and husband Tracy and Charles Rathbun and their children Brooke and Bronson Brewald, Evan Boxler, Emma Rathbun and Wesley Rathbun. Steve was beloved by both sides of the family, and will also be missed by his parents-in-law Bob and Sue Taylor and a large number of brothers and sisters-in-law including Ken and Cindy Taylor and their children Alex and Tyler Sedlacek, Hannah Taylor, and Lauren Taylor; Terri and Jim Raudenbush and their daughters Halie and Paige; Carol and Phillip Blea and their children Taylor and Bella. Steve was preceded in death by his brother, Keith Boxler. Arrangements were made by Anchorage Funeral Home & Cremation Services. A small ceremony was held on October 23rd to spread Steve’s ashes, and it included the reading of his obituary and excerpts from one of his favorite short stories. A public celebration of life will be held at a later date when it is safe for larger groups to gather and family members to travel. Those who wish to give a memorial can contribute to ALS Therapy Development Institute or contribute to Lia’s college fund. College fund donations can be made by mailing a check to: Charles Schwab fbo Lia Boxler 101 S. Capitol Blvd., Ste 1603 Boise, ID 83702 (FBO = For Benefit Of) Steve’s daughter Lia put together a slideshow featuring her dad’s photography, and she would be honored if you would view it: Steve Boxler Photography Please sign or visit his online guestbook on this website. Steve’s family will be checking it regularly, and your notes will bring them great comfort during this difficult time.