Steve Herynk

Steve Neil Herynk, age 75, of Adel, Iowa, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2023 at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, following his years-long battle with interstitial lung disease.

Stephen Neil Herynk was born on March 23, 1947 at Garnett, Kansas. He was the first of three children born to Thomas R. Herynk and Frances Mae (Neil) Herynk. Steve grew up on a farm southeast of Lone Elm, Kansas. He began school in the one room Belleview schoolhouse before going on to elementary school at Lone Elm and then graduating from Kincaid High School with the class of 1965. Following high school he attended Allen County Community College before going on to earn his bachelor's degree in Health & Physical Education from Pittsburg State University in 1973.

On March 14, 1970, Steve was united in marriage with Sandra Harris at Holy Angels Church, Garnett, Kansas. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Bobbi Jo and Jeri Lynn. They first made their home in Pittsburg while Steve was in college, moving to Kincaid in 1972. After college, Steve taught and coached a short time while farming with his father before deciding that farming and raising cattle was his true calling. He enjoyed working the land, being close to nature, and caring for his crops and stock. He was eager to try new things, including building a small lake and irrigation system on his farm, and moving into custom farming in the late 80's as the economics of farming changed. Later in life, he never really left the farm, taking up gardening, doing custom lawn grading and seeding with his John Deere tractor, and keeping up with the latest agricultural technology changes through YouTube.

Steve was active in his community, working as a substitute teacher and bus driver for the Crest school district, in addition to serving on the school board. He was a member of the Kincaid Lion's Club and helped with community activities including the Kincaid Fair. Steve was a member of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Garnett and sang in the choir. He enjoyed coaching his daughters' softball teams and helping at biddy basketball when they were young. Steve always made time for his family even though he may have had crops to harvest or other farm obligations. In 1991, Steve took a position with Farmer's Casualty Insurance (later acquired by State Auto Insurance) as a claims adjuster. This required a move to West Des Moines, Iowa and later Adel, Iowa where the family found many new friends. The farm was still close to Steve's heart as he returned to Kincaid on the weekends to tend to the farming for many years. In 2016, Steve retired from the insurance company after 25 years of service.

Steve loved to have a good time when he was not working (or maybe should have been working?). He honed keen skills in the pool and card halls of his youth, and later acquired a passion for golf. He enjoyed these past-times with family, life-long childhood friends, and new friends he made in Iowa. He very much looked forward to these special times with friends, including weekly get togethers with his neighborhood buddies right up until the time he entered the hospital. Steve was also a fisherman, learning from his Grandma Neil who took him to local farm ponds when he was a very young boy. In turn, he taught his girls and grandchildren to fish, and shared many outings with his brother-in-law and nephews. It hasn't been proven, but Steve may have been solar-powered, as he loved soaking up the sun, whether it was in the field, mowing the yard, in a pool or on the beach. He loved their family trips with children and grandchildren, especially to Florida, Yellowstone and California. Family gatherings meant a chance to enjoy Steve's cooking and grilling, good conversation and stories, and a nice glass of wine or a Budweiser. He was an avid Chiefs, Royals and Jayhawks fan, and when his grandkids went off to college he expanded his loyalty to include the Cyclones, K-State Wildcats and Razorbacks.

Steve will be remembered for being a loyal Friend, devoted Son, wonderful and ornery Big Brother, fun-loving Uncle, and most of all, a loving and caring Husband, Dad and Papa.

Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Frances on December 3, 2015 and his father, Tom on November 7, 2019.

Steve is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sandra of the home; daughters, Bobbi Perkins and husband, Mike of Adel, Iowa and Jeri Gardner and husband, Josh of Stilwell, Kansas; four grandchildren, Meg and Olivia Perkins, and Dawson and Emma Gardner; two sisters, Christy Lamb and husband, Larry of Livermore, California, and Patti Scronce and husband, Mike of McHenry, Illinois; sister in law, Jo Helen Sprague and husband, Lonnie of Kincaid, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Steve will be 10:30 AM, Friday, February 10, 2023 at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Garnett. Inurnment will follow in the Kincaid Cemetery, Kincaid, Kansas. Steve's family will greet friends from 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday evening at Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Kincaid High School Community Center or Kincaid Fair Association and left in care of the funeral home, or to the Kansas City Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis (KCFPF) by donating in honor of Steve directly on their website at KCFPF@kcpulmonaryfibrosis.org . Condolences to the family may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .