"What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others" ~~ Pericles
He appears on the 1950 Census with his parents, Kenneth and Rosie.
Obituary
Steven Lewis Graham departed this life March 30, 2020. He is the second son of Kenneth Lee and Rosie (Thomas) Graham. Born October 06, 1949 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The young family moved to Kansas City, Kansas when Steve was six months old. The family was joined by little sister, DeAnn in 1961.
Steve graduated from Wyandotte high school in 1968, not attending his own graduation. He worked at Griff's Drive-In while going to school. Upon his graduation he worked at Hallmark for less than a year, then began a lifelong career in September 1968 with Kansas Gas Service. He started as a serviceman, moving to A/C man, dispatcher and finally "working foreman". Retiring in 2007 after over thirty-eight years.
One of his lifelong friends, Jim Vogel had encouraged him to come to work at the Gas Company. Along with working there he was a staunch Union man. Upon Jim's promotion in 1989, Steve became the president of Local 12561 in the Steelworkers Union. An elected position he held until he retired.
Steve was in the Army, but just overnight. He joined, then the next day was told because of a problem in one knee he couldn't serve.
March 11, 1978 Steve met his future wife, Sharyn at a private club in Kansas City, Kansas. At that time he was living in Shawnee. In June 1986 Steve proposed, they married the following October.
Sharyn had been married before, both sons, Michael (& Janie) and Mark (& Joyce) were out on their own. Steve became "Grandpa" to their eight children: Mark Jr, Kris, Angelina, Matthew, Jacob, Johnny, Sarah and Benjamin; "Great Grandpa" to nine greats, with two more on the way this year.
He was "Uncle" to five and their spouses, one nephew, four nieces, "Great Uncle" to nine, three girls, six boys. The youngest, Abner was born March 1st in Moline, Illinois. Beside the niece, Michele (& Jason) in Moline, he has a niece, Christa (& Jeff) in Blue Springs and another, Natalie (& Nicholas) in Portland, Oregon. His brother's son, Aaron (& Akiko) and daughter, Erica (& Carson) are both living in California.
Steve and Sharyn traveled all over the country on "union trips", Las Vegas, San Diego, Portland, New Orleans, just to name a few. They also traveled after Steve retired. Hawaii in 2011 for their 25th anniversary. Bangor, Maine in 2014, sadly for Sharyn's sister-in-law's funeral. Their last trip was to San Diego in 2018 after they had to say goodbye to their beloved puppy girl, Brandi. Steve got Brandi for Sharyn and brought her to her forever home at eight weeks of age. Don't tell Sharyn but Brandi LOVED Steve best.
Steve was an avid fisherman, hunter and golfer, having taken up golf late. He always said he wasn't very good at it but he had fun. When he wasn't watching sports on tv, he was watching old westerns. He also kept a vegetable garden for many years and grew the BEST tomatoes.
After retirement he joined a coffee group (who also walk) at Oak Park Mall with other retirees from an assortment of professions. He had breakfast twice a week at Hy-Vee with some of the Gas Company retirees. They also got together for lunch about once a month.
Everywhere Steve went he made friends, keeping his old friends close, much like his parents had done.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of thirty-three plus years, his brother Dale (& Linda), his sister DeAnn (& Steve), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, countless friends, extended family and his Union brothers and sisters.
A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date. (details below)
Published obituary
Steven L Graham, 70, passed away March 30, 2020. Kansas Gas Service retiree. USWA Local 12561 President, retired. A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date.
The Kansas City STAR
03 April 2020
July 2020
I scattered a small amount of Steve's ashes at Sunrise Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, off the dock at Ted Watskey's place (with Mary's permission), where he and his "Lake Group" had many, many happy times. The lake group consisted of Ted Watskey (of course), Jim Vogel, Jerry Marcus, Ed Able, Melvin Jacks, Jimmy Gaunce and Steve. Later, Matt Calovich joined the group after he retired and they'd lost Melvin and Jimmy.
A "Celebration of Life" was held 12 March 2022 (forty-four years after we met) at Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Pastor Kim Dominic presided over the service. Jim Vogel and Emil Ramirez spoke about their memories of Steve. Ken Strom organized the slide show. Music: "In This Life" by Iz, "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and "The Dance" by Garth Brooks. A family dinner was held after the service, hosted by the church's bereavement committee.
27 April 2023
I took about one ounce of Steve's ashes along with a smidge of Brandi's and left a small portion of them at Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area near Herod, Illinois. It was sad being there again without you. Miss you every minute of every day.
He appears on the 1950 Census with his parents, Kenneth and Rosie.
Obituary
Steven Lewis Graham departed this life March 30, 2020. He is the second son of Kenneth Lee and Rosie (Thomas) Graham. Born October 06, 1949 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The young family moved to Kansas City, Kansas when Steve was six months old. The family was joined by little sister, DeAnn in 1961.
Steve graduated from Wyandotte high school in 1968, not attending his own graduation. He worked at Griff's Drive-In while going to school. Upon his graduation he worked at Hallmark for less than a year, then began a lifelong career in September 1968 with Kansas Gas Service. He started as a serviceman, moving to A/C man, dispatcher and finally "working foreman". Retiring in 2007 after over thirty-eight years.
One of his lifelong friends, Jim Vogel had encouraged him to come to work at the Gas Company. Along with working there he was a staunch Union man. Upon Jim's promotion in 1989, Steve became the president of Local 12561 in the Steelworkers Union. An elected position he held until he retired.
Steve was in the Army, but just overnight. He joined, then the next day was told because of a problem in one knee he couldn't serve.
March 11, 1978 Steve met his future wife, Sharyn at a private club in Kansas City, Kansas. At that time he was living in Shawnee. In June 1986 Steve proposed, they married the following October.
Sharyn had been married before, both sons, Michael (& Janie) and Mark (& Joyce) were out on their own. Steve became "Grandpa" to their eight children: Mark Jr, Kris, Angelina, Matthew, Jacob, Johnny, Sarah and Benjamin; "Great Grandpa" to nine greats, with two more on the way this year.
He was "Uncle" to five and their spouses, one nephew, four nieces, "Great Uncle" to nine, three girls, six boys. The youngest, Abner was born March 1st in Moline, Illinois. Beside the niece, Michele (& Jason) in Moline, he has a niece, Christa (& Jeff) in Blue Springs and another, Natalie (& Nicholas) in Portland, Oregon. His brother's son, Aaron (& Akiko) and daughter, Erica (& Carson) are both living in California.
Steve and Sharyn traveled all over the country on "union trips", Las Vegas, San Diego, Portland, New Orleans, just to name a few. They also traveled after Steve retired. Hawaii in 2011 for their 25th anniversary. Bangor, Maine in 2014, sadly for Sharyn's sister-in-law's funeral. Their last trip was to San Diego in 2018 after they had to say goodbye to their beloved puppy girl, Brandi. Steve got Brandi for Sharyn and brought her to her forever home at eight weeks of age. Don't tell Sharyn but Brandi LOVED Steve best.
Steve was an avid fisherman, hunter and golfer, having taken up golf late. He always said he wasn't very good at it but he had fun. When he wasn't watching sports on tv, he was watching old westerns. He also kept a vegetable garden for many years and grew the BEST tomatoes.
After retirement he joined a coffee group (who also walk) at Oak Park Mall with other retirees from an assortment of professions. He had breakfast twice a week at Hy-Vee with some of the Gas Company retirees. They also got together for lunch about once a month.
Everywhere Steve went he made friends, keeping his old friends close, much like his parents had done.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of thirty-three plus years, his brother Dale (& Linda), his sister DeAnn (& Steve), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, countless friends, extended family and his Union brothers and sisters.
A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date. (details below)
Published obituary
Steven L Graham, 70, passed away March 30, 2020. Kansas Gas Service retiree. USWA Local 12561 President, retired. A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date.
The Kansas City STAR
03 April 2020
July 2020
I scattered a small amount of Steve's ashes at Sunrise Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, off the dock at Ted Watskey's place (with Mary's permission), where he and his "Lake Group" had many, many happy times. The lake group consisted of Ted Watskey (of course), Jim Vogel, Jerry Marcus, Ed Able, Melvin Jacks, Jimmy Gaunce and Steve. Later, Matt Calovich joined the group after he retired and they'd lost Melvin and Jimmy.
A "Celebration of Life" was held 12 March 2022 (forty-four years after we met) at Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Pastor Kim Dominic presided over the service. Jim Vogel and Emil Ramirez spoke about their memories of Steve. Ken Strom organized the slide show. Music: "In This Life" by Iz, "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and "The Dance" by Garth Brooks. A family dinner was held after the service, hosted by the church's bereavement committee.
27 April 2023
I took about one ounce of Steve's ashes along with a smidge of Brandi's and left a small portion of them at Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area near Herod, Illinois. It was sad being there again without you. Miss you every minute of every day.
"What you leave behind is not what is engraved on stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others" ~~ Pericles
He appears on the 1950 Census with his parents, Kenneth and Rosie.
Obituary
Steven Lewis Graham departed this life March 30, 2020. He is the second son of Kenneth Lee and Rosie (Thomas) Graham. Born October 06, 1949 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The young family moved to Kansas City, Kansas when Steve was six months old. The family was joined by little sister, DeAnn in 1961.
Steve graduated from Wyandotte high school in 1968, not attending his own graduation. He worked at Griff's Drive-In while going to school. Upon his graduation he worked at Hallmark for less than a year, then began a lifelong career in September 1968 with Kansas Gas Service. He started as a serviceman, moving to A/C man, dispatcher and finally "working foreman". Retiring in 2007 after over thirty-eight years.
One of his lifelong friends, Jim Vogel had encouraged him to come to work at the Gas Company. Along with working there he was a staunch Union man. Upon Jim's promotion in 1989, Steve became the president of Local 12561 in the Steelworkers Union. An elected position he held until he retired.
Steve was in the Army, but just overnight. He joined, then the next day was told because of a problem in one knee he couldn't serve.
March 11, 1978 Steve met his future wife, Sharyn at a private club in Kansas City, Kansas. At that time he was living in Shawnee. In June 1986 Steve proposed, they married the following October.
Sharyn had been married before, both sons, Michael (& Janie) and Mark (& Joyce) were out on their own. Steve became "Grandpa" to their eight children: Mark Jr, Kris, Angelina, Matthew, Jacob, Johnny, Sarah and Benjamin; "Great Grandpa" to nine greats, with two more on the way this year.
He was "Uncle" to five and their spouses, one nephew, four nieces, "Great Uncle" to nine, three girls, six boys. The youngest, Abner was born March 1st in Moline, Illinois. Beside the niece, Michele (& Jason) in Moline, he has a niece, Christa (& Jeff) in Blue Springs and another, Natalie (& Nicholas) in Portland, Oregon. His brother's son, Aaron (& Akiko) and daughter, Erica (& Carson) are both living in California.
Steve and Sharyn traveled all over the country on "union trips", Las Vegas, San Diego, Portland, New Orleans, just to name a few. They also traveled after Steve retired. Hawaii in 2011 for their 25th anniversary. Bangor, Maine in 2014, sadly for Sharyn's sister-in-law's funeral. Their last trip was to San Diego in 2018 after they had to say goodbye to their beloved puppy girl, Brandi. Steve got Brandi for Sharyn and brought her to her forever home at eight weeks of age. Don't tell Sharyn but Brandi LOVED Steve best.
Steve was an avid fisherman, hunter and golfer, having taken up golf late. He always said he wasn't very good at it but he had fun. When he wasn't watching sports on tv, he was watching old westerns. He also kept a vegetable garden for many years and grew the BEST tomatoes.
After retirement he joined a coffee group (who also walk) at Oak Park Mall with other retirees from an assortment of professions. He had breakfast twice a week at Hy-Vee with some of the Gas Company retirees. They also got together for lunch about once a month.
Everywhere Steve went he made friends, keeping his old friends close, much like his parents had done.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of thirty-three plus years, his brother Dale (& Linda), his sister DeAnn (& Steve), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, countless friends, extended family and his Union brothers and sisters.
A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date. (details below)
Published obituary
Steven L Graham, 70, passed away March 30, 2020. Kansas Gas Service retiree. USWA Local 12561 President, retired. A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date.
The Kansas City STAR
03 April 2020
July 2020
I scattered a small amount of Steve's ashes at Sunrise Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, off the dock at Ted Watskey's place (with Mary's permission), where he and his "Lake Group" had many, many happy times. The lake group consisted of Ted Watskey (of course), Jim Vogel, Jerry Marcus, Ed Able, Melvin Jacks, Jimmy Gaunce and Steve. Later, Matt Calovich joined the group after he retired and they'd lost Melvin and Jimmy.
A "Celebration of Life" was held 12 March 2022 (forty-four years after we met) at Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Pastor Kim Dominic presided over the service. Jim Vogel and Emil Ramirez spoke about their memories of Steve. Ken Strom organized the slide show. Music: "In This Life" by Iz, "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and "The Dance" by Garth Brooks. A family dinner was held after the service, hosted by the church's bereavement committee.
27 April 2023
I took about one ounce of Steve's ashes along with a smidge of Brandi's and left a small portion of them at Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area near Herod, Illinois. It was sad being there again without you. Miss you every minute of every day.
He appears on the 1950 Census with his parents, Kenneth and Rosie.
Obituary
Steven Lewis Graham departed this life March 30, 2020. He is the second son of Kenneth Lee and Rosie (Thomas) Graham. Born October 06, 1949 in Fort Scott, Kansas. The young family moved to Kansas City, Kansas when Steve was six months old. The family was joined by little sister, DeAnn in 1961.
Steve graduated from Wyandotte high school in 1968, not attending his own graduation. He worked at Griff's Drive-In while going to school. Upon his graduation he worked at Hallmark for less than a year, then began a lifelong career in September 1968 with Kansas Gas Service. He started as a serviceman, moving to A/C man, dispatcher and finally "working foreman". Retiring in 2007 after over thirty-eight years.
One of his lifelong friends, Jim Vogel had encouraged him to come to work at the Gas Company. Along with working there he was a staunch Union man. Upon Jim's promotion in 1989, Steve became the president of Local 12561 in the Steelworkers Union. An elected position he held until he retired.
Steve was in the Army, but just overnight. He joined, then the next day was told because of a problem in one knee he couldn't serve.
March 11, 1978 Steve met his future wife, Sharyn at a private club in Kansas City, Kansas. At that time he was living in Shawnee. In June 1986 Steve proposed, they married the following October.
Sharyn had been married before, both sons, Michael (& Janie) and Mark (& Joyce) were out on their own. Steve became "Grandpa" to their eight children: Mark Jr, Kris, Angelina, Matthew, Jacob, Johnny, Sarah and Benjamin; "Great Grandpa" to nine greats, with two more on the way this year.
He was "Uncle" to five and their spouses, one nephew, four nieces, "Great Uncle" to nine, three girls, six boys. The youngest, Abner was born March 1st in Moline, Illinois. Beside the niece, Michele (& Jason) in Moline, he has a niece, Christa (& Jeff) in Blue Springs and another, Natalie (& Nicholas) in Portland, Oregon. His brother's son, Aaron (& Akiko) and daughter, Erica (& Carson) are both living in California.
Steve and Sharyn traveled all over the country on "union trips", Las Vegas, San Diego, Portland, New Orleans, just to name a few. They also traveled after Steve retired. Hawaii in 2011 for their 25th anniversary. Bangor, Maine in 2014, sadly for Sharyn's sister-in-law's funeral. Their last trip was to San Diego in 2018 after they had to say goodbye to their beloved puppy girl, Brandi. Steve got Brandi for Sharyn and brought her to her forever home at eight weeks of age. Don't tell Sharyn but Brandi LOVED Steve best.
Steve was an avid fisherman, hunter and golfer, having taken up golf late. He always said he wasn't very good at it but he had fun. When he wasn't watching sports on tv, he was watching old westerns. He also kept a vegetable garden for many years and grew the BEST tomatoes.
After retirement he joined a coffee group (who also walk) at Oak Park Mall with other retirees from an assortment of professions. He had breakfast twice a week at Hy-Vee with some of the Gas Company retirees. They also got together for lunch about once a month.
Everywhere Steve went he made friends, keeping his old friends close, much like his parents had done.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of thirty-three plus years, his brother Dale (& Linda), his sister DeAnn (& Steve), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, countless friends, extended family and his Union brothers and sisters.
A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date. (details below)
Published obituary
Steven L Graham, 70, passed away March 30, 2020. Kansas Gas Service retiree. USWA Local 12561 President, retired. A "Celebration of Life" will be held at a future date.
The Kansas City STAR
03 April 2020
July 2020
I scattered a small amount of Steve's ashes at Sunrise Beach, Lake of the Ozarks, off the dock at Ted Watskey's place (with Mary's permission), where he and his "Lake Group" had many, many happy times. The lake group consisted of Ted Watskey (of course), Jim Vogel, Jerry Marcus, Ed Able, Melvin Jacks, Jimmy Gaunce and Steve. Later, Matt Calovich joined the group after he retired and they'd lost Melvin and Jimmy.
A "Celebration of Life" was held 12 March 2022 (forty-four years after we met) at Wyandotte United Methodist Church, 7901 Oakland Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. Pastor Kim Dominic presided over the service. Jim Vogel and Emil Ramirez spoke about their memories of Steve. Ken Strom organized the slide show. Music: "In This Life" by Iz, "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and "The Dance" by Garth Brooks. A family dinner was held after the service, hosted by the church's bereavement committee.
27 April 2023
I took about one ounce of Steve's ashes along with a smidge of Brandi's and left a small portion of them at Garden of the Gods Wilderness Area near Herod, Illinois. It was sad being there again without you. Miss you every minute of every day.
Family Members
Spouse
