Charles "Chuck" Manley Stevens, age 83, passed away on January 9, 2025. He was born on April 25, 1941 to Manley and Dorothy Stevens in Sterling, CO. The fact that he started his own radio station in his backyard at age 16 in Sterling gave a hint of things to come.
After working in radio in Colorado and TV and radio in South Dakota, Chuck joined KOLN TV in 1960 as a staff announcer. He joined KLIN radio in 1966 while doing KOLN weekend sports until 1982. He left KLIN in 1972 and spent 10 years at KLMS in sales, where he started doing sports. In 1982, Chuck was hired at KFOR to do play-by-play, morning sports, and sales. Later, he became Sports Director where he aired more than 2,000 play-by-play broadcasts of area high school football and basketball games. Announcing the Nebraska Wesleyan University basketball games also brought him great joy.
Chuck is a three-time winner of the Nebraska Sportscaster of the Year award. In 2012, he received the Outstanding Community Service Award from the Nebraska State Interscholastic Athletic Administration Association and was inducted into the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. Chuck retired from broadcasting in 2012. He enjoyed a 52-year career on Lincoln radio and TV.
Chuck married Connie (Krejdl) from Milligan, NE in 1969 and had four children, Sheila, Kelly, Kendra and Kevin. While broadcasting was his passion, Chuck was an avid sports fan, enjoyed golf, attending Husker games and listening to classic rock. He loved his dogs and they loved him. Chuck was fascinated with any type of aircraft, especially Thunderbirds, The Blue Angels, and even crop dusters. Visiting his children and watching his grandchildren’s many events brought a big smile to his face. After retirement Chuck enjoyed sitting on the patio watching birds while sipping his favorite drink.
Chuck died peacefully surrounded by family at Harbor House at Calvert after a battle with dementia. We want to thank them for their amazing care.
Chuck is survived by his wife, Connie; his brother, Alan (Beth) Stevens; four children, Sheila Stevens (Collen Beard) of Avondale Estates, Georgia, Kelly Matsuda of Lincoln, Nebraska, Kendra (Ryan) Gerlach of Holland, Michigan and Kevin (Krista) Stevens of Lincoln, Nebraska; six grandchildren, Chloe (Taylor Apodaca, fiancé), Macy, Trey, Evan, Chase and Zach; his uncle, Monte (Olivia) Loos of Rapid City, South Dakota; cousins; a niece, and many nephews.
Memorial services will be Friday, January 17th, 2025 at 2 pm at First Plymouth Congregational Church. Memorials can be made to the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame or Alzheimer's Association Nebraska Chapter.
