Evelyn Rose Stegman

Evelyn Rose Stegman, 75, passed away on June 16, 2026, in Ellinwood, KS. She was a longtime resident of Ellinwood, where she built a life defined by warmth, generosity, and an unwavering dedication to others.

Evelyn was the daughter of William (Bill) and Margaret (Schulte) Stegman. She grew up in the Offerle/Kinsley area as part of a large close-knit family, and that sense of belonging shaped everything she did. She pursued her education with purpose, earning her undergraduate degree from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, KS. and later her master's degree from Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS. Armed with a passion for learning and her natural gift for connecting to people, Evelyn embarked on a teaching career that spanned an extraordinary 44 years. She began her teaching career at St. Nicholas Catholic School in Kinsley, KS. where she taught from 1973-1982. She then relocated to St. Joseph's Catholic School in Ellinwood, KS. where she taught from 1982-1986. In 1986, she began teaching at the Ellinwood Elementary School until her retirement in 2017.

Evelyn touched countless lives. She had the ability to make every person she came into contact with feel with feel like the most important person in the world. She did not know many strangers, and if by chance she did, it wouldn't take long for her to know their entire life story. That genuine curiosity about people paired with a deep and tender heart, made her beloved by students, colleagues, and community members alike. Her excellence in education was recognized when she became the first recipient of the Ellinwood Public Education and Library Foundation Teacher of the Year Award and was also honored with inclusion in Who's Who Among American Women.

Beyond the classroom, Evelyn was a gifted baker who found joy not only in creating delicious treats but in teaching others how to bake as well. Her kitchen was always open, and time spent there with family and friends was among her greatest pleasures. She treasured every gathering, every conversation and every quiet moment shared with the people she loved.

Evelyn is survived by her brothers; Wayne Stegman (Judy) of Topeka, KS., Dean Stegman (Darla) of Kinsley, KS., Rean Stegman (Jeri) of Offerle, KS., sisters; Patricia Coates of Wichita Falls, TX., Bernadette Worcester of Salina, KS., and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Don Stegman (Kathy) of Hutchinson, KS., sister Janice Riedlinger of Dodge City, KS., brothers-in-law; Don Reidlinger of Dodge City, KS., Lesley Coates of Wichita Falls, TX., and Richard Worcester of Salina, KS.; nephew William Titsworth (Lori) of Great Bend, KS.; great niece and nephew Emily Hanley and Roman Stegman.

Rosary is 7 p.m. Friday, June 19, 2026, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood, KS.

The Rite of Christian Burial will be held on June 20, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Ellinwood, KS.

Inurnment will be at 2:00 p.m. on June 20, 2026, in the New St. Joseph Cemetery, Offerle, KS.

Memorial may be made to Catholic Charities of Southwest Kansas in care of McKillip Funeral Home, P.O. Box 304, Kinsley, KS. 67547