IN MEMORIAM
EXPANDED EULOGIES
“In Memoriam” listings are expanded paid obituaries, phrased as the family requests, and may include enhanced information or photographs that might not fit within free death notices.
Stephen Podszus
A celebration of life for Stephen James Podszus, 77, Lincolnville, who passed away Jan. 23, 2025, in Wichita, will be 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Yazel-Megli Funeral Home, 205 Elm St, Marion.
Although born March 22, 1948, in McAllen, Texas, Steve was a Kansas boy through and through.
He grew up on a farm across from Lincolnville’s baseball field and later lived in town close to the grain elevator.
He graduated from Centre High School in 1966, studied electronics, and worked for Beech Aircraft in Salina.
Steve served his country honorably as an Army radio operator in Vietnam, where he spent 13 months 2 days in Quang Tri province, the site of the demilitarized zone between the north and the south.
He and Cindy Podszus (née Powell) were married Nov. 18, 1972, in Marion and made their home in Salina.
They later moved to Colorado, where they raised their two daughters in Longmont and Colorado Springs.
In Colorado, Steve worked for Beech Aircraft as a test technician in its quality control department. He then worked as a real estate agent. He also spent many years as a commercial power tool and electrical equipment salesperson with a multistate territory.
He spent time in Texas, Tennessee, and Kentucky before returning home to Lincolnville.
Steve was exceptionally kind to animals, with a special love for cats and birds.
He could bring history alive in his knowledgeable conversations about everything from Kansas settlers to World War II.
He loved to visit historic sites, to take walks around town to greet his human and animal neighbors, and to follow local and national politics.
Steve grew the tastiest tomatoes and diligently worked to keep his trees and flowers growing through dry spells.
Whenever the weather changed, he was sure to monitor the temperature, precipitation, and forecast.
He enjoyed watching old movies and television shows as well as shows about mysterious places.
Steve also had quite a sweet tooth and made visiting Russell Stover part of any trip to Abilene.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Viola Podszus of Lincolnville.
Steve is survived by his daughters, Debbie Podszus of Duisburg, Germany, and Becky Podszus of Olympia, Washington.
He also is survived by his ex-wife, Cindy Podszus of Olympia, Washington; his brother, Rod Podszus of Hartland, Wisconsin; and many friends.
In honor of his wishes, Steve continues to care for others as an organ donor by helping them live more days with their loved ones.
But all of this cannot begin to capture the man we knew.
Steve had a gentleness of soul that is far too uncommon in this world. He weathered life’s storms and kept going, finding simple joys in watching the birds at his feeder, talking to store clerks where he shopped, and reading a new book one of his daughters sent him.