Stephen (Steve) Leo Ackerman, 77, Spearville
SPEARVILLE – Stephen (Steve) Leo Ackerman, 77, died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2021, at the Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore.
He was born August 9, 1944, at Dodge City, the son of Anthony B. and Magdalen F. (Schawe) Ackerman. He was a 1962 graduate of Windthorst High School and in 1966 received his Bachelors from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, as well as serving in the Army Reserve. He was a lifetime Spearville area resident, where he farmed for many years. He also worked as a welder for Roto-Mix in Dodge City and Crust Buster in Spearville. He loved spending time with his grandkids and teasing them in a way they didn’t always understand.
He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church and Knights of Columbus Council 1539, both in Spearville. He was a former Grand Knight of the Windthorst Knights of Columbus.
On May 7, 1977, he married Kerry Tripp at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Windthorst.
Survivors include: his wife of 44 years, Kerry, Spearville; their three children, Stephanie Hornung, Spearville, Brad Ackerman and wife Heather, Spearville and Jill Bauer and husband Rex, Kearney, Nebraska; a sister, Doris Waldron, Johnson; his father and mother-in-law, Lawrence and Mary Tripp, Beloit; three sisters-in-law, Linda Ackerman, Dodge City, Judy Ackerman, Arvada, Colorado and Kristin Mendenhall, Wichita; two brothers-in-law, Bob Dick, Abilene, Kansas, and Gary Tripp and wife Pat, Clearwater, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Payton Schneider, Kyle Schneider, Austin Hornung, Blake Hornung, Stephen Ackerman, Isabella Ackerman, Joselyn Bauer and Julia Bauer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Robert, Vic and Denis Ackerman, two sisters, Sr. Karen Ackerman and Vera Dick and a brother-in-law, David Waldron.
Vigil service followed by Knights of Columbus rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 26, 202,1 both at St. John the Baptist Church, Spearville. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church with Fr. Matthew Kumi presiding. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, Windthorst. Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at Ziegler Funeral Chapel, Dodge City.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Windthorst Heritage, Inc. or the Hodgeman County Health Center, both in care of Ziegler Funeral Chapel, 1901 N. 14th Ave., Dodge City, Kansas 67801. Condolences may be sent to www.zieglerfuneralchapel.com