Obituary of Steve J. Spangler

Steve Spangler, age 70, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Monday, September 17, 2018, at Residential Living Center in Garnett, Kansas.

Steven Jay Spangler was born on March 27, 1948, at Iola, Kansas.  He was the youngest of seven children born to Marion and Faye (Anderson) Spangler of Colony, Kansas.  Three of the children died at birth or shortly after.  Steve grew up with two sisters, Shirley and Arla Jean, and one brother, Ken.

Steve had two passions as a boy.  He loved playing baseball (he was a pitcher) and he loved riding the horses that he and his dad trained.  In his teen years, he developed a love for hunting behind his bird dog.  He also liked tinkering with cars.  Steve attended school in Colony, graduating in 1966.  He then attended and graduated from the mechanic vocational school at Kansas State College of Pittsburg in 1968.  He began working at Pointer Chevrolet in Garnett where his parents were living at the time.  Steve married his wife, Cathy Paxton in 1969.  This marriage was blessed by two children, son, Jeff and daughter, Juliana. 

In 1972, Steve began working for Kenneth R. Johnson selling oil field supplies, fixing alternators, generators and starters mostly from tractors and big trucks.  After the closing of the Kenneth R. Johnson business, Steve and Jay Harrington purchased the auto electric portion of the business.   They owned and operated “SJ Auto Electric” for several years, Jay eventually sold his portion to Steve and he continued the business until June of 2018. He had excellent skills managing business and trouble shooting. 

In 1996, he and Cathy bought 20 acres of land out west of Garnett and built a barn.  This allowed them to live out their shared dream of riding and enjoying their horses.  Steve raised and trained two quarter horse colts.  In 1998 Steve and Cathy were able to build a house out near the barn and in 2008, built another barn.  Steve enjoyed the care of the horses and spent many hours up keeping the pastures and working with the horses.  Steve and Cathy created many memories with their children and grandchildren with the horses at their ranch.

Steve also loved watching professional Rodeo, keeping up with the stars of rodeo, watching them on TV and attending several as well.  He and Cathy attended the National Finals Rodeo for a couple of years.  In 1993 they attended their first Cheyenne Frontier Days to the last few days of that rodeo each year.  They only missed one year of the Cheyenne Rodeo after that.  He loved those rodeos and western life entertainment.

Steve professed Jesus as his Savior and was baptized in the Garnett United Methodist Church in 2003.  He later joined and was active in the Church of the Nazarene of Garnett.

He enjoyed going to “coffee” with the guys early most weekdays and he knew nearly everyone in Garnett, and the surrounding farmland.  He served on the Senior Citizens Board beginning in 2015.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Faye; his sister, Shirley; three infant brothers, Stanley, Darold, and Phillip.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy Spangler, of the home; son, Jeff Spangler, of Pittsburg; daughter, Juliana and husband Jeff Hughes of Carl Junction, Missouri; five grandchildren, Andee Fitzwater, Caleb Spangler, Walker Spangler-Hill, Kaylee Coulter, Carigon Kepner; one great grandson, Payton Fitzwater; brother, Ken Spangler and wife Donna of Overland Park; and sister, Arla Jean and husband Dee Galbraith of Placentia, California.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, September 21, 2018, at the Garnett Church of the Nazarene.  Burial will follow in the Lone Elm Cemetery, Lone Elm, Kansas.  The family will greet friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel in Garnett.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Garnett Nazarene Church and left in care of the funeral home.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com