Steve Romanchuk, 87, of Lone Jack, MO, passed away on September 14, 2023 on his beloved farm.

Steve was born on June 10, 1936 to Mildred L. Williams and George Romanchuk in Kansas City, MO. After Steve graduated from Oak Grove High School in 1954, he enlisted in the Navy and was medically discharged in August 1957 after losing his eye from an Indian arrow, as the story goes.

After the Navy Steve worked construction for Jack Hackley and Tri City, and farmed with Charles Madsen. In 1964 he attended 2 years of college before moving to Mexico to pan for gold. Shortly after he signed on with GSI for eight years where he traveled the world causing chaos and having fun all while making great memories that he loved to share with anyone who would listen. Around the eighth year of his travels, he was taken captive in Somalia for 45 days. When he finally made it back home in December of 1973, he swore he would never leave the U.S. again and ran the family dairy farm while also working construction for John Leath until he was hired on at the U.S. Postal Service in 1978. He retired from the Post Office in 2000 and spent most of his free time with his wife and grandkids or being ornery with his friends and neighbors.

In May 1974, Steve met Judy Ann McDaniel at the Oak Grove Animal Clinic.  Steve and Judy married September 20, 1974 and had four daughters.

During his extraordinary life, he was a member of the American Legion post 379 and was Commander for 15 years, a member of the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance, NRA, Missouri Historical Society, Fleet Reserve Association, Association of Minemen, and volunteered at the Lone Jack Civil War Museum. He also shot the cannon for the Oak Grove Panthers football team for twenty plus years.

Steve was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Lori I Vantuyl, his parents Mildred and George Romanchuk, and his baby brother John Romanchuk. He is survived by his wife Judy Romanchuk, sister Judy Noland (Mike) of Lee’s Summit, daughters Kelly Romanchuk (Brent Cole) of Independence, Amber Squires (Rob Squires) and Krystin Romanchuk-Reddell (Andy Reddell) both of Lone Jack, MO, and son-in-law Danny Vantuyl of Lawrence, KS; nine grandchildren: Lauren, Riley, Max, Tanner, Macey, Aiden, Cali, Wyatt, and Jace; two great-grandchildren, Keegan and Kaden; as well as an abundance of family, friends, and neighbors who loved him.

Visitation will be held at New Life Church in Oak Grove, MO on Saturday, September 23, 2023 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. with the funeral following at 3:00 p.m. Burial will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Basin Knob Cemetery or Sni Mills Cemetery.

Obituary submitted by the family.

Arrangements:  Royer Funeral Home, Oak Grove, MO   816-690-4441