Steven James ""Steve Einsel

Steven James “Steve” Einsel, 68, of Wichita, Kansas, died June 14, 2016 at Wichita, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. Burial will follow at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Visitation will be from 1-7 PM on Tuesday, June 21st at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be designated to the family for a memorial to be determined at a later date. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Steve was born to Ellis Eugene and Mary Ina (Knoles) Einsel on August 21, 1947 in Scottsbluff. His first job was a paper carrier for the Scottsbluff Star Herald. He played the trombone in the Scottsbluff High School marching band and lived there until his graduation from high school in 1965.

Steve attended the University of Nebraska and then graduated from Chadron State College in 1969. He married Judy White in 1970 and started his teaching career and family in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He and his family moved to Liberal, Kansas in 1973 where he taught for seven years. They moved to Derby, Kansas in 1980 where he taught an additional 23 years. He taught for a total of 33 years.

Steve loved his students and spent all of his life dedicated to DECA. He and his students won many state and national awards over the years. Even after his retirement, he continued to be very active in state and national DECA competitions and continued to judge events. He was most recently awarded the DECA outstanding service award for 50 years of service to DECA.

Steve loved the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was very active in the Kansas Cornhuskers Club, recently serving as treasurer.

Steve has been a member of the Derby Chamber of Commerce and the Derby Lions Club. Most recently, he and his partner Ken have run a successful business; Steve’s Jams and Jellies.

Steve is survived by Ken Smith; his mom Mary Ina Einsel; daughters Melissa (Jason) White and Kym (Neil) Fries; Judy White; sisters Janet Wilson and Debe (Terry) Thompson; 6 grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by many family members including his dad Ellis Einsel; sister Polly Einsel; nephew Larry Wilson Jr.; niece Melodee Crews; and nephew Fernando Wilson.

Steve touched many lives over the years and will be greatly missed by all.