TOPEKA — Stephen “Steve” Andrew Wilson, Topeka, formerly of Lawrence, died Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, at Midland Hospice, Topeka. He was 70.
He was born Feb. 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 E. “Jim” Wilson following Jim’s marriage to Virginia.
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.
He married Nancy Walker in 1991, and they had one son, Stephen James William Wilson.
Steve inherited his father’s 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 playing and singing around the campfire with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his longtime companion, Christy Mara, Lawrence; his parents; and his former spouse.
Steve is survived by his son, Stephen, Lawrence; his sisters, Pam Martin (Richard) and Dee Anderson (Dick), Topeka; his brother, Jay Wilson, Osage City; many nieces and nephews; his best friend, Jeff Helken, Lawrence; and several cherished tomato and pepper plants.
A memorial hike and scattering of ashes in the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness, Colorado, are planned for later this fall.