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Obituary for Rev. Stephen F. Long
Rev. Stephen F. Long, a resident of Milford and former resident of Pontiac, died on December 3, 2013 after a battle with cancer.
Born on April 23, 1943 in Miami, Florida, the son of Samuel Charles Long and Sarah Louise Little, Stephen grew up in Miami where he was a part of his high school�s State Championship basketball team. A gifted athlete, he went on to study at the University of Florida in Gainesville where he starred on the football team and was offered a contract from the Dallas Cowboys. He went on to become a successful businessman before his call to enter the Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
It was in Indianapolis that Stephen met Sandra Cox. They fell in love and married in April of 1975 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Martinsville, Indiana. Stephen completed his studies and Master of Divinity at Concordia Theological Seminary in 1993, and worked at the seminary's Development Office for a time while Sandra finished her schooling. Soon after they moved to Taylor, Michigan where Rev. Long took a call to serve at St. John Lutheran Church. He was Senior Pastor there for over eleven years, after which he spent two years at Lutheran Church of the Incarnate Word in Rochester Hills until his health was interrupted with a stroke. He and Sandra moved to Milford two years ago and joined the church family at Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hartland, where Rev. Long was deeply moved and honored by the opportunities he was given to preach on several occasions.
Rev. Long was devoted to the confessional standard of the Lutheran Church and deeply loved the Lord and his family. He was so very proud to be a grandpa. He was a genuine character who was always able to find the humor in things; and he had a deep faith that gave him the strength to accept the troubles that came to him with grace.
In addition to Sandra, his beloved wife of over thirty-eight years, he is survived by his daughter, Amanda (Frank) Uhle of Ann Arbor; his son, Adam C. (Julie Brown) Long of Boston; his cherished granddaughters, Beatrix Uhle and Elizabeth Uhle and many dear friends.
A Funeral Service will be held at Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church, 13667 W. Highland Rd., Hartland, on Friday, December 6, at 11AM with Pastor Christopher I. Thoma officiating. Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 4-8PM and on Friday from 10AM until the time of service. Burial Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia on Friday at 2PM. Memorials may be made in his name to Our Savior Lutheran Church. For further information please contact Lynch & Sons Funeral Directors, Milford, at 248-684-6645.
