Stephen Wesley Nugen

Stephen Wesley Nugen was born on April 21, 1936 to Dorothy and Lowell Slaughter. Dorothy later married Thomas Nugen who adopted and raised Steve, giving him his last name that was shared with Pat and passed down to Steve’s children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

In high school, Steve was a gutsy track star who set a school record in the 440 event. More importantly, it’s where the 15-year old boy met a pretty girl named Pat who became the center of his world for the rest of his life. Steve and Patricia were married September 5, 1953. Steve and Pat didn’t have it easy at first. Steve was still finishing high school while working nights when their first child was born. But, they persevered and brought their first five children into this world: Stephen, Nancy, Laurie, Julie, and Erin. After brief pause, they brought four more children into the family: Scott, Matthew, Nicole, and Kara. Nancy was lost to us in childhood. The rest are still with us, honoring their Dad with their lives and families.

Steve worked most of his life for AT&T which moved him frequently. His unofficial part-time night job was remodeling the houses he and his family lived in so that each new house was larger and nicer than the one before it.

Even with all that work, Steve was always and foremost a devoted husband and father. He and Pat took their kids to visit family in Missouri and Virginia; and on wonderful vacations to the Ozarks and the mountains in Colorado and Wyoming.

After Steve retired, he and Pat bought a camper and traveled across most of the country as working nomads in places like Texas, Wyoming and Yellowstone Park. They settled down in New Mexico for a spell, then recently moved to Overland Park to be closer to more of their family.

Steve peacefully passed away on February 22, 2022 with his devoted wife and some of his children by his side. He is survived by his wife and the families they nurtured. He will be missed, but never forgotten.

Donations to honor Steve can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtmoriah.net for the Nugen family.