Stephen Wilson Obituary

Stephen "Steve" Andrew Wilson, formerly of Lawrence, Kansas died September 17, 2021 at Midland Hospice in Topeka, KS. He was born February 25, 1951 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Lt. William N. Tapp, Jr. and Virginia E. (Hartle) Tapp. His birth father, a U.S. Air Force pilot, was lost at sea in October 1951 and Steve and his sister Pam were adopted by Capt. James (Jim) E. Wilson following Jim's marriage to Virginia. Steve married Nancy (Walker) Wilson in 1991 and they had one son, Stephen James William Wilson.

Steve graduated from Topeka West High School in 1969 and attended the University of Kansas. His career encompassed independent trucking, managing nutritional supplements departments for several health food stores, and at retirement, driving for Lawrence Transit.

Steve inherited his fathers' sense of adventure. He loved all things mechanical and fast (cars and trucks), loud (jazz and classic rock) and natural (deer hunting, gardening and rock collecting). An annual vacation to Long's Peak in Colorado offered opportunity to share his love of wild mushroom hunting, grilling and guitar singing around the campfire with family and friends.

Steve is survived by his son Stephen of Lawrence, sisters Pam (Richard) Martin and Dee (Dick) Anderson of Topeka, brother Jay Wilson of Osage City, many nieces and nephews, best friend Jeff Helken of Lawrence and several cherished tomato and pepper plants. He was preceded in death by his longtime companion Christy Mara of Lawrence, parents, and former spouse. A memorial hike and scattering of ashes in Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness are planned for later this Fall.