Stephen M. Hicks

Stephen M. Hicks, 70, of Olathe, passed away on November 3, 2019. He was born on January 14, 1949 to Dana and Luella (Kennedy) Hicks in Faribault, MN.

Steve grew up in Minnesota and spent most of his childhood in St. Paul where he graduated from St. Bernard's High School in 1967. Throughout his life there, he loved interacting with his sisters, Delores and Duana, then later with their children, Debbie, Terri, Nikki, Laura, Vicki and Missy.

He voluntarily joined the United States Airforce at the height of the Vietnam conflict where he served as a Fuel's Specialist until being honorably discharged in August 1971. During his enlistment, he was shipped overseas and spent 12 months active duty in Bangkok, Thailand.

Steve married his first wife Vicki and moved to Sedalia Missouri where the couple was blessed with their first daughter, Colleen. Some years later, Steve met and married his second wife, Susan and was once again blessed with his son, Michael and daughter, Catherine. Steve continued to work as a fuel's specialist at Patrick AFB in Florida and Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City, until making his final move to Olathe, KS in 1989.

Over the years, Steve was blessed with 10 beautiful grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with each of them and built a 'photo shrine' of each family (Colleen & Chris Gregg, Michael & Alex Hicks and Cathy & Brett Schroeder) on his living room wall so he could be reminded each day of the great joy they brought him.

Steve volunteered his time at Olathe Medical Center, loved his family, his loyal dogs Barney and Guinness, being outdoors, camping (especially in Colorado), WWII history and carpentry. He was an avid WWII aircraft modeler and recently, built a historically accurate model of the B-24 Liberator and presented it to Christopher Gregg, the grandson of Lt. Harry Gregg who served with the 389th Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force. Lt. Gregg participated in 25 Combat Missions on that aircraft as a Combat Missions Bombardier.

Stephen is survived by his loving wife, Susan; children, Colleen Gregg, Michael Hicks, Catherine Schroeder; grandchildren, Noah Gregg, Annabel Gregg, Samuel Gregg, Kai Smith, Augustus Gregg, Fallon Hicks, Henry Gregg, Greyson Hicks, Sebastian Schroeder, and Jude Schroeder.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dana and Luella Hicks; and sisters, Duana Kabylnick and Delores Fink.

The family will receive friends for a visitation from 9:00-10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Penwell Gabel's Olathe Chapel, the memorial service will follow at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family has kindly requested donations be made to KU Endowment Neurology in memory of Stephen Hicks. Online contributions can be made at www.kuendowment.org/givenow or, please make checks payable to KU Endowment- Mailing to KU Endowment-Mailstop 3012, 3901 Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66160.



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