Steve Rome

Family members are sad to announce the passing of Steve Rome of Hugoton, Kansas. Steve was 69 years old and died on August 8th at St. Catherine’s Hospital in Garden City, Kansas. He passed from this life surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle with cancer.
Steve was born on March 7, 1953 in Garden City to Dave and Evelyn Rome. The family moved to Hugoton, Kansas to begin a farming operation when Steve was one year old. He was a graduate of Hugoton High School in 1971 and went on to complete an Agronomy degree from Fort Hays State University in 1975. He was a member of Delta Sigma Chi Fraternity while attending school there. He began his career by going to work for the Kansas State Extension field and research center in Garden City, and then went on to be the Agronomist for the Garden City Cooperative. Steve enjoyed using his expertise and friendly personality to work alongside many farmers in the Garden City area. While working at the Coop, he met his future wife, Robynn Ridenour, and they were married in Garden City on April 3, 1982. When his father retired from farming, the couple moved to Hugoton, and Steve continued the irrigated farming operation along with his brother Keith Rome. A few years later, another brother Dave Rome joined the farming operation and over the next 40 years, they built a very successful and large irrigated farming operation.
Steve and Robynn raised two children – Jennifer, born in 1984 and Justin, born in 1986, both of which graduated from Hugoton High School. The family are members of the First Christian Church in Hugoton where, through the years, Steve was active in Sunday school, children’s church, bible study and various church committees. He also served as Deacon for the church.
Steve’s civic duties were numerous. He served on the Stevens County Extension Board, City Council and the Economic Development Committee in Hugoton and won the Shakers and Movers award for his work on leading the development of independent gas utilities for area irrigated farmers. Realizing this need and benefit for area irrigation farmers was a passion for Steve at the time. He made numerous trips to Topeka to testify before state congress, and worked with countless resources, lawyers, lawmakers and the state groundwater and natural gas agency to see legislation and regulations passed for the benefit of the area irrigated farmers.
Steve also represented the agricultural profession by serving 20 years on the Kansas Corn Growers Association and the Kansas Corn Commission where he used his experience and expertise in agriculture to benefit farmers across the state.
Steve will be remembered for his unfailing work ethic, his friendly personality, his professionalism and fortitude in seeing effective issues accomplished, and his willingness to come at any time to help a neighbor or friend in need.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents Evelyn and Dave Rome, and his sister Diane Johnson of McPherson, KS. He is survived by his wife, Robynn, of Hugoton, his daughter Jennifer of Omaha, NE, and his son Justin of Hugoton. He is survived by his three brothers – Richard Rome and wife Connee, Keith Rome and wife Lisa, and Dave Rome and wife Lori, all of Hugoton, along with his two sisters Carol Birdsell and husband Bill of Kansas City, MO and Mary Rome of Louisville, KY. He will be greatly missed by his numerous nieces and nephews, along with many extended family members and friends who will greatly miss him.
Family and friends will gather to remember and celebrate Steve’s life on Thursday, August 11th, at 2 PM at the First Christian Church in Hugoton with a graveside service to follow at Hugoton Cemetery. Visitation is Wednesday, August 10th from 2 PM until 8 PM with family greeting friends from 6 PM until 8 PM at Garnand Funeral Home, 920 E. 11th St., Hugoton. Please share a memory or comment about Steve at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Kansas Corn Growers Association.