Stephen Finley

Stephen Michael Finley was born on Oct 21, 1951 in Atwood, Kan., the eldest of five sons of John "Jack" Dale and Doris Estella Luedke Finley.

Steve was a lifelong resident of Atwood. He loved sports from childhood and when he attended Atwood High School, he was active in the athletics program. He earned medals in football, track, and basketball throughout his high school career and in his senior year, his basketball team took third at state. Friendly and outgoing, Steve had a entertaining sense of humor and was highly popular with his fellow students, who elected him Prom King in his junior year. In addition
He graduted from Atwood High School in 1971 and attended Colby Community College, where he played basketball with the CCC Trojans. He made lifelong friends on his basketball team and they stayed in close touch.

After college, Steve returned to Atwood to work alongside his father in the family business, Finley Construction and Redi Mix, which Jack had founded in 1946. Steve, who had grown up helping his dad in the business, was experienced and well prepared to assume leadership in the company upon his father's retirement. His family sometimes joked that "cement flowed through his veins."
Steve expanded the business to include Atwood Lumber. In 2001, he built Finley Auto Spa and gave the town its car wash.

Steve met his future wife, Anita Ann Weishapl of Herndon, Kan., on a blind date to the Rawlins County Fair dance. He later frequently told his frirends that he knew after that first date that he was going to marry that girl and indeed, the couple were married May 20, 1978 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Herndon. They made their home in Atwood. Three sons were born to their union, Jeffery Michael Jan. 20, 1983; Jarett Stephen, Jan. 28, 1986; and Jason John, May 6, 1987. Steve was a passionate supporter of his sons in their many activities, which ranged from Boy Scouts and sports to Scholars Bowl and band. Their friends always found a welcome in the Finley home, for everything from dance lessons in the garage to movie nights to video games. He doted on his schildren and was immensely proud of them. He was more than happy to talk about their accomplishments to anyone who would listen.

As a businessman, Steve served Northwest Kansas in a wide variety of construction projects, large and small. He also became heavily involved in community life and he threw his enthusiastic support behind anything that would benefit Atwood. He was active as an Atwood Ambassador and was instrumental in launching the first Early Rod Run in 1983. The event grew to one of the largest car shows in the state.

Golf was a lifelong hobby for Steve, who served on the Atwood Country Club Board. He helped to found the Atwood Jamboree Golf Tournament in the late 1970s and participated in the event every summer. In recent years, he and his barbecue team, The Three Stooges, captured honors at the Smokin' on the Beaver Barbecue Contest in the fall, which he helped to support in its early years.
Steve learned to water ski on Lake Atwood and enjoyed skiing at Trenton—any time, day or night. He taught his sons and their friends to water ski and all the kids looked forward to summer trips to the lake.

Steve was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in November 2016. He was receiving chemotherapy treatments to control the MDS at the time of his death, which was Feb. 6, 2017 at his home.

Steve was preceded in death by his father in 2013; brother, Kevin, in 2014; and father-in-law, Franics, in 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Anita of the home; sons, Jeff of Des Moines, Iowa; Jarett of Atwood; and Jason of Coffeyville, Kan.; his mother, Doris of Atwood; three brothers, Larry of Atwood; Doug and wife, Donna, of Colby and their sons, Christopher and wife, Katrina, and Cole, all of Lawrence; sister-in-law, Karin of Atwood; Brad and wife, Laurie, of Olathe, Kan.; and mother-in-law, Anna of Atwood.

A funeral mass was held with Fr. Dan Scheetz officiating. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be given in his name to Atwood Second Century. Baalman Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

The family wishes to send their sincerest thank you to the many family and friends who visited or sent cards since Stephen's wreck, brought food, attended the funeral, or provided support in any way. He had a larger-than-life personality and it is evident that the entire community of Atwood will greatly miss him. Anyone who ever met Stephen Finley knew that they had a friend.
- Anita, Jeff, Jarett, Jason Finley