Steven Alan Rose was born to Levi “Lee” and Ada (Zoller) Rose in Hays, Kansas, on July 20, 1945, joining his older sister Karen to complete the family. He passed at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, Kansas, on Monday, January 2, 2023.
After attending the Agra School system he graduated in 1963. Steven went to Fort Hays State, electronics college in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated in 1968 from Embry-Riddle Aeronautics Institute in Daytona Beach, Florida with an airframe and power plant mechanic degree.
Being a master in many fields, he has been a rancher, farmer, board member, soil conservation employee, vehicle mechanic, and an aviation mechanic. His aviation career began in Wichita, Kansas with Flo Air, Air Midwest, Lear Jet, and finally Beech Aircraft. His employment with Beech was maintaining the United States Ambassadors aircraft in Pretoria, South Africa as Beech held the government contract for all American Embassy aircraft.
Steven loved to fly and held a private pilot license and had worked on obtaining a commercial pilot license.
On September 14, 1974, Steven and Kay were married in Wichita, Kansas. A daughter Paige Alynn was born on July 28th, 1975. Paige married Michael Merrifield in 1997 and 3 daughters were born: London Jade, Macy Faith, and Kindle Morgan.
A lover of country music, Marty Robbins was the favorite. “Lean On Me”,” I’ll Fly Away”,” My Woman, My Wife”, “Strawberry Roan”, and the “Hanging Tree” were very special to him.
Steven was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Ronald Fenneman. Survived by wife Kay of Agra, KS; daughter Paige and family of Waterloo, NE; sister Karen of Phoenix, AZ and her sons Roger and wife Hsiao Hsien of Cornville, AZ and Michael and his son Connor of Glendale, AZ.
An informal graveside service at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2023, at the Agra Cemetery, Agra, KS with Pastor Joel Hiesterman officiating.
Friends may sign the book from noon until 9:00 p.m. Sunday, January 15, 2023, at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg. The casket will remain closed.
The family has requested no flowers, please, but you may make a memorial contribution to Honor Flight or Quilts of Honor c/o Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, PO Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS 67661 if you wish.