John Steven Koenig, a former Burns area resident, passed away at his home in Albany, Ore., as a result of a long-term chronic illness.

Steven was born in Manhasset, N.Y., to John Joseph Koenig and Helen Zavis Koenig and grew up in New York and New Jersey. He earned a BS degree in Philosophy, an MS degree in American Studies, and an M. Ed. degree in Special Education.  

He taught English as a second language in Washington, D.C., then served in the Peace Corps in Brazil with his first wife, Philomena Mastantuono. He married Edie Chatters in 1981, and joined her in raising her daughter, Rebecca.

The family lived for a time in Wallowa County, and later in the Pullman, Wash., and Moscow, Idaho area. There, daughter Tracy was added to the family.

Steven was employed full time by Harney County School District No. 3, from 1994 to 2013. He taught Special Education at Burns High School, taught at the Eastern Oregon Youth Correctional Facility and ran the Burns High Alternative School. He and his family lived in the Harney area. After continuing to work part time for District No. 3, he joined the family in the valley in 2018.

In retirement, Steven devoted much of his time to his family and friends and his beloved cats. He enjoyed reading and visiting with neighbors.

He is survived by his wife, Edie; his daughters, Rebecca Rainwater Brown and Tracy Diane Koenig; his sister, Mary-Anne Koenig Pomputius and brother-in-law, William F. Pomputius, Jr.; his niece, Mary-Alice Pomputius, and her husband, Walter Smith; his nephew, William F. Pomputius, III, and his wife, Pam Pomputius, a granddaughter and two grandnieces.