Steven Melius

Steven Melius, age 47, of Ulysses, Kansas, died Saturday, October 14, 2023, at his home in Ulysses, Kansas. He was born December 18, 1975, in Faulkton, South Dakota, the son of Ronald Melius and Eva Jo Holdren Melius.

Steve grew up in South Dakota on the family farm until he was 11 years old. After the death of his father in 1987, his family moved to Holly, Colorado and then to Elkhart, Kansas. While attending school in Elkhart he played football with the Wildcats as a defensive tackle. Unfortunately, he suffered from a knee injury that stopped him from playing, but not his love of football. This drove him to learn everything about the game, an unwavering fan of the Buffalo Bills. Loved ones joked about “You can ask Steve about any football question, and he would answer like Google.” He graduated from Yarbrough High School in Oklahoma. His dream was one day to return to the family farm in South Dakota. This never happened and set him on another path and was blessed with the birth of his pride and joy, his son Dalton. He worked in the Oklahoma panhandle at CRI feeders for a number of years. In 2003 he suffered from a TBI from a motorcycle accident and struggled with it for the rest of his life. Steve and his son finally settled in Ulysses, Kansas, in 2005. Steve worked various jobs, including at CRI Feeders as a truck driver and in maintenance for USD 214. He coached his son’s youth league football team. Steve took his love of motorcycles and worked to become a certified motorcycle mechanic and owned and operated U Town Cycles. They say man’s best friend is his dog, but for Steve they were so much more. Siberian Husky dogs, wolves and eagles were his favorite gifts as statues or pictures that friends, and family gifted to him. Steve’s favorite entertainers were Jeff Dunham, Jim Carey and Gabriel Iglesias, to name a few. At social gatherings Steve would entertain everyone with cleverly placed quotes from his favorite comedians, at the right moment to keep everyone laughing. 4th of July was his favorite holiday because he loved to make things go “Boom, boom”.

Steve is survived by his son, Dalton Melius of Colorado Springs, Colorado; mother, Eva Melius-Myers of Faulkton, South Dakota; brother, Greg Melius of Twin Falls, Idaho; sisters, Dicie (Shannon) Isley of Holly, Colorado, Michelle (Michael) Cooper of Springfield, Colorado, Rhonda (Jeremy) Lavielle of Elkhart, Kansas, Lafonda Myers of Elkhart, Kansas, Wanda (Travis) Smith of St. Augustine, Florida, and Keia Myers and Jeremiah Lund of New London, Minnesota; godmother, Mary Lou Coen of Elkhart, Kansas; and special friend, Kay Broyles of Ulysses, Kansas. At least and not ever forgotten numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Steve is preceded in death by his father, Ronald Melius; grandparents, Lloyd and Delores Melius and Jack and Waunita Holdren, uncle, Bill and aunt, Shelbie Holdren, aunt, Glenda Sangter; and his godfather, Larry Coen.

Memorial service will be, Saturday, October 21, 2023, at 10:00 AM, at the Church of Christ in Ulysses with Pastor Warren Baldwin officiating. Memorial contributions may be given to the Brain Injury Association of Kansas in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.