Born at Grafton on January 4, 1955, Steve was the third of four Regal boys. Parents Bernice and Jerry moved the family to Lake Heights so the children could get a better education and a greater chance of securing a trade.

After leaving school, Steve became an apprentice auto electrician at Lennock Motors in Wollongong and later worked at a service station in Port Kembla before moving to Dwyers.

In 1975, Steve met his wife Sue at the Bridge Hotel in Nowra and were married on June 4, 1977, settling in Oxley Avenue, Kiama Downs.

Eldest daughter Renee was born three years later, son Adam was welcomed in 1983 and Amy in 1989.

The same year the family moved to Gibraltar Avenue, Kiama Downs.

Steve played football for Port Kembla, Guinnery's Goannas, Albion Park and Kiama Knights.

He became a long-time supporter of Kiama Rugby Club and Kiama Touch Association.

Steve's children delivered the eulogy at last Friday's service at Kiama.

Close mates Mark Bryant, Al Marsden and Mick Cook also spoke. All talked about Steve's love of life and his family.

The crowd was often plunged into fits of laughter as the speakers told stories about his indelible character, but none summed him up better than one recollection from daughter Renee.

"Dad took us all to JJ Kelly Park to see the great Moscow Circus," she said.

"He had saved to get the tickets and was as excited as us kids to see the famous bears; unfortunately this wasn't meant to be.

"It was raining and blowing a gale that day and just as the bears were about to make their appearance part of the tent blew down.

"I remember Mum was nursing Amy and ever the hero, dad flew down the wooden grandstand, grabbed the pram and took off out the door of the tent, leaving mum to wrangle us kids to safety all the while yelling, 'The bears have escaped! The bears have escaped!'

"This, of course, was not the case and after mum reminded him of this all the way home, Dad sat at the dinner table and wrote a long letter to Michael Edgely telling him of our disappointment at not seeing the bears. For all his efforts dad scored four fresh tickets to the circus and we got to see those bears in Sydney."

Rest in peace Steve Regal, you will certainly be remembered be everyone who had the pleasure of knowing you.