IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased largely as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.

Margie Stegeman

With deep sorrow, survivors mourn the passing of Margie F. Stegeman, their beloved matriarch.

She was born June 8, 1927, in a farmhouse near Durham and was welcomed into the loving arms of Jesus on Jan. 2, 2026.

During her 98 years of life, most of which were lived in Overland Park, she inspired the hearts of countless people with her wisdom, humor, creativity, and perseverance.

Her unwavering faith life was of utmost importance, and she diligently applied Godly principles as she guided her children, ingraining in them a solid foundational love for the Lord.

She was the Swiss Army knife of mothers — sharp, precise, and resourceful. She navigated the chaos of a bustling family with many a diaper change, meal making, countless chores, school activities and sporting events with skill and a good dose of laughter.

Margie was a lifelong learner, and her interests and talents ran the gamut: bowling, gardening, sewing, crafts, ceramic and tole painting, extension unit and church clubs, reading, clipping funnies or drawing her own, watching sports, and keeping up with the news.

She was her family’s very own teacher of proper English and many other topics, the world’s most precise bed-maker, decisive in “the way things should be done,” collector of helpful gadgets, quick witted, a creative spirit, a deep thinker, and prayerful through it all.

She ardently prayed for her family and found great delight in every one of them. She also made many dear friends and great neighbors along the journey.

She would make family members laugh as she rode her chairlift up the staircase, slowly waving, chin up, with a stoic, stage-worthy recitation of “goodbye, cruel world.”

And now they rest assured, with peace in their hearts, she has ridden her final assent all the way up to Heaven to sing “Hallelujah” forever more in paradise.

She was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Clarence; parents, Frank and Petrona Krotz; and brothers, Florian, Eddie, and Tommy.

She is survived by her sisters, Delores (and husband Jack) and Mary Jane (and husband Paul), and many other dear relatives.

Her spirit and teachings live on through her 11 children and their families: Mike (and wife Julia), Karen (and husband Barry), Pat (and husband Dan), Denise (and husband Mark), Jim (and wife Kathy), Margaret (and husband Ron), Joe (and wife Nancy), Ed (and wife Laurie), Susie (and husband Mark), Gene (and wife Lori), and Bob (and wife Lori); 34 grandchildren; 63 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.

In honor of Margie’s life, consider pursuing your curiosity as she did — seek knowledge, understanding, and independent thought — for as she taught us, you are never too old to learn something new.

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