Family members are sad to announce the passing of Steve Rome of Hugoton,
Kansas. Steve was 69 years old and died on August 8th at St.
Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. He passed from this life
surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle with cancer.
Steve was born on March 7, 1953, in Garden City to Dave and Evelyn
Rome. The family moved to Hugoton, Kansas to begin a farming operation
when Steve was one year old. He was a graduate of Hugoton High School in
1971 and went on to complete an Agronomy degree from Fort Hays State
University in 1975. He was a member of Delta Sigma Chi Fraternity while
attending school there. He began his career by going to work for the
Kansas State Extension field and research center in Garden City, and
then went on to be the Agronomist for the Garden City Cooperative.
Steve enjoyed using his expertise and friendly personality to work
alongside many farmers in the Garden City area. While working at the
Coop, he met his future wife, Robynn Ridenour, and they were married in
Garden City on April 3, 1982. When his father retired from farming, the
couple moved to Hugoton, and Steve continued the irrigated farming
operation along with his brother Keith Rome. A few years later, another
brother Dave Rome joined the farming operation and over the next 40
years, they built a very successful and large irrigated farming
operation.
Steve and Robynn raised two children – Jennifer, born in 1984 and
Justin, born in 1986, both of which graduated from Hugoton High School.
The family are members of the First Christian Church in Hugoton where,
through the years, Steve was active in Sunday school, children’s church,
bible study and various church committees. He also served as Deacon for
the church.
Steve’s civic duties were numerous. He served on the Stevens County
Extension Board, City Council and the Economic Development Committee in
Hugoton and won the Shakers and Movers award for his work on leading
the development of independent gas utilities for area irrigated farmers.
Realizing this need and benefit for area irrigation farmers was a
passion for Steve at the time. He made numerous trips to Topeka to
testify before state congress, and worked with countless resources,
lawyers, lawmakers and the state groundwater and natural gas agency to
see legislation and regulations passed for the benefit of the area
irrigated farmers.
Steve also represented the agricultural profession by serving 20
years on the Kansas Corn Growers Association and the Kansas Corn
Commission where he used his experience and expertise in agriculture to
benefit farmers across the state.
Steve will be remembered for his unfailing work ethic, his friendly
personality, his professionalism and fortitude in seeing effective
issues accomplished, and his willingness to come at any time to help a
neighbor or friend in need.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents Evelyn and Dave Rome, and
his sister Diane Johnson of McPherson, KS. He is survived by his wife,
Robynn, of Hugoton, his daughter Jennifer of Omaha, NE, and his son
Justin of Hugoton. He is survived by his three brothers – Richard Rome
and wife Connee, Keith Rome and wife Lisa, and Dave Rome and wife Lori,
all of Hugoton, along with his two sisters Carol Birdsell and husband
Bill of Kansas City, MO and Mary Rome of Louisville, KY. He will be
greatly missed by his numerous nieces and nephews, along with many
extended family members and friends who will greatly miss him.
Family and friends will gather to remember and celebrate Steve’s
life on Thursday, August 11th, at 2 PM at the First Christian Church in
Hugoton with a graveside service to follow at Hugoton Cemetery.
Visitation is Wednesday, August 10th from 2 PM until 8 PM with family
greeting friends from 6 PM until 8 PM at Garnand Funeral Home, 920 E.
11th St., Hugoton.
Please share a memory or comment about Steve at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kansas State Corn Growers Association.