Navy veteran from Roselle dies in Iowa

Steven Adam Atchison was a decorated Navy veteran with a bright career.

But only about two months after the Roselle man moved to Iowa, a tragic weekend car crash cut his life short.

The 27-year-old died Saturday in a collision that killed three others and hurt another five in Iowa.

"It's so tragic," said his father, Steven Atchison.

After graduating Lake Park High School in 1998, the young Atchison attended the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn for about two years and then joined the military.

During his five-year career with the Navy, the Roselle man was deployed to Iraq while serving as an air traffic controller on the USS Boxer.

"He served his country proud," his father said.

The young man's decorations include a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation Ribbon, Navy "E" Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons.

"But more than anything, I will always remember him for loving people," the elder Atchison said. "He could walk into a room and there were no strangers."

Visitation is planned for 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Salerno's Rosedale Chapels, 450 W. Lake St., Roselle. Funeral services will be private.

The accident that cut the young Atchison's life short occurred at 2:40 p.m. Saturday on Iowa's I-35, south of Ames.

Atchison was sitting in the front passenger seat of a Mitsubishi Galant driven by Zachari Thomas, 21, of Ottumwa, Iowa, when the car struck a parked motor home, according to the Iowa State Patrol.

Thomas and Atchison were killed along with passenger Gavin Granneman, 29, of Clive, Iowa. Atchison's girlfriend, 22-year-old Karli Manker of Iowa City, Iowa, died as well.

The fifth passenger, Eric Hartung, 26, of Johnston, Iowa, was critically injured but reported to be in stable condition Tuesday, Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Randy Kunert said.

The motor home, which was parked legally, had four passengers, police said. Their injuries were not life threatening, police said.

It's not yet known if alcohol played a role in the crash, Kunert said. Toxicology tests will take about two weeks.

In lieu of flowers or contributions, Atchison's family is asking people to do something kind someone.

"That's what he would have done," his father said.