Obituary for Stephen Bruce Kitchens
Stephen (Steve) B. Kitchens, 73, of Kansas City, Kansas, departed this life on Friday, December 18, 2020 at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Merriam, KS.
Steve was born in San Diego, California on February 8, 1947 to Frank and Juanita Kitchens. As a youth, Steve lived in California, Arkansas, Tennessee, New Mexico and Oregon. At the age of 20 while living in Portland, Oregon, Steve enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June of 1967, where he served until 1971. He honorably served in Vietnam, deploying 3 times. Steve sailed aboard the USS Berkley (DDG-15), and USS Ozburn (DD-846). While in the Navy, He was awarded the Combat Action Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea.)
Steve attended and graduated from the then Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas, (now Abilene Christian University) in 1975, with a B.S. in Business. After college, Steve worked in and around Houston for several years in the restaurant industry before moving back to Kansas to be closer to the rest of his family in 1983. Steve was employed by Johnson County Community College in Overland Park for nearly 23 years before retiring in 2011 and was an active member of Westside Church of Christ in Kansas City, Kansas. Steve financially supported many non-profit organizations and volunteered at Westside Church of Christ. He loved his family and friends and found a way to be part of their lives by sending cards for every occasion. As a hobby, Steve built model car replicas and sold these many years at the annual Heartland Model Car Nationals.
Steve is survived by his sister, Kathi Haynes and husband Steve of Lenexa; brother Philip Kitchens and wife Christine of Clearwater, Florida; brother Randy Kitchens and wife Whitney; and sister Jennifer (Jenny) Greisen of Long Beach, California; as well as numerous Nieces, Nephews, Grand Nieces and Grand Nephews. Steve is preceded in death by both of his parents, Albert (Franklin) Kitchens, Jr. and Juanita Eloise (Williams) Kitchens. Graveside services will take place on a later date in Bonner Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Memorial Fund for Steve Kitchens at Westside Church of Christ, 8740 State Ave., Kansas City, KS, 66112.
Steve was born in San Diego, California on February 8, 1947 to Frank and Juanita Kitchens. As a youth, Steve lived in California, Arkansas, Tennessee, New Mexico and Oregon. At the age of 20 while living in Portland, Oregon, Steve enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June of 1967, where he served until 1971. He honorably served in Vietnam, deploying 3 times. Steve sailed aboard the USS Berkley (DDG-15), and USS Ozburn (DD-846). While in the Navy, He was awarded the Combat Action Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with bronze star, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Korea.)
Steve attended and graduated from the then Abilene Christian College in Abilene, Texas, (now Abilene Christian University) in 1975, with a B.S. in Business. After college, Steve worked in and around Houston for several years in the restaurant industry before moving back to Kansas to be closer to the rest of his family in 1983. Steve was employed by Johnson County Community College in Overland Park for nearly 23 years before retiring in 2011 and was an active member of Westside Church of Christ in Kansas City, Kansas. Steve financially supported many non-profit organizations and volunteered at Westside Church of Christ. He loved his family and friends and found a way to be part of their lives by sending cards for every occasion. As a hobby, Steve built model car replicas and sold these many years at the annual Heartland Model Car Nationals.
Steve is survived by his sister, Kathi Haynes and husband Steve of Lenexa; brother Philip Kitchens and wife Christine of Clearwater, Florida; brother Randy Kitchens and wife Whitney; and sister Jennifer (Jenny) Greisen of Long Beach, California; as well as numerous Nieces, Nephews, Grand Nieces and Grand Nephews. Steve is preceded in death by both of his parents, Albert (Franklin) Kitchens, Jr. and Juanita Eloise (Williams) Kitchens. Graveside services will take place on a later date in Bonner Springs. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Memorial Fund for Steve Kitchens at Westside Church of Christ, 8740 State Ave., Kansas City, KS, 66112.