Steven Jay Dawdy

Steven Jay Dawdy, 64, passed peacefully on February 22, 2025, in Marysville, Kansas. Steve was born on 4/20/1960, in Hanover, Kansas, the proud second son of a second son. His beloved father, star athlete, musician, and teacher Robert Marshall Dawdy, tragically preceded Steve in death when he was just a preschooler. In his father's absence, he was loved and nurtured by his grandparents Harold and Elsie Dawdy, Aunt Shirley, the Nanninga family, Grammy, and the Axtell/ Bern/Sabetha community. Steve briefly lived in Emporia and Kansas City with his mother Nancy (Nanninga), stepfather Jerry Hazlett, and two brothers before moving to Concordia, Kansas. He had fond memories of growing up in Concordia, especially playing little league, junior high sports, music, and community events. He was most delighted by the arrival of a baby sister. Steve attended and was confirmed in the Brantford Covenant Church and attended CHIC. His family then moved to Dodge City, where Steve was an avid reader, all-around high school gymnast, tennis player, photographer, and musician. While a student/athlete, he worked in restaurants and trades learning valuable lifelong skills. Steve graduated as a State of Kansas Scholar from Dodge City Senior High School and then attended Kansas University on an academic scholarship. He was a proud lifelong Jayhawk. 

Steve married his high school sweetheart, Desima (DAR), at First Christian Church in Dodge City, Kansas where he was also baptized. They resided in Topeka and attended Brookwood Covenant Church. Steve felt very lucky to have married into Desima's wonderful family. He was very proud to be the father of their two amazing sons, Major James Dawdy, and Chief of Perfusion, Luke Dawdy, father-in-law to Elizibeth and Yesenia, and grandpa to the newest "Dawdy Boys" Theo and Noah. 

Steve was a union sheet metal worker and in facilities operations. He was one of the first team members hired at Target Topeka Distribution Center where he also worked as a trainer and on the Emergency Response Team. Steve's world revolved around being an active fit outdoorsman. He was a skilled hunter/gatherer who loved cooking, raising and training hunting dogs, pool league, MMA, Mountain Dew, ice cream, pie, hiking, and sports. He was a good friend to many. 

At age 50, Steve permanently lost his short-term memory due to complications after presenting at a Topeka hospital with 20 tick bites from mushroom hunting and being misdiagnosed and discharged without antibiotics. On death's door, he was saved by the intervention of Dr. Phillip Baker, who coordinated an emergency referral and treatment for Ehrlichiosis by infectious disease specialist Dr. Mike West. In Steve's honor please take tick-prevention seriously. His go-to-gear became Elimitick. https://www.gamehide.com/pages/elimitick

PSA If fever/temperature spikes/malaria symptoms are present after a tick bite, quickly seek a specialist and advocate for the correct antibiotic prophylaxis because "City Docs" may not be educated on how tick bites or Ehrlichiosis are diagnosed and proactively treated. Death often occurs before tests from the CDC can be cultured. https://www.cdc.gov/ehrlichiosis/about/index.html

Steve suffered a head injury at age 58, which caused disorientation and discombobulation and perplexed local primary care and neurologists. His wife advocated for a referral to Dr. Ryan Townley at KU Alzheimer's Disease Research Center where a PET Scan and Lumbar Puncture confirmed Younger Onset Dementia (bvEOAD). Steve participated in multiple research studies at KU including PET scans which documented his brain atrophy to include a secondary diagnosis of Frontal Temporal Dementia (bvFTD) mixed dementias. The family will be forever grateful for the physicians, social workers, and care team at KU Alzheimer's. In Steve's honor please join KU's My Alliance for Brain Health for prevention, research, education, support, and treatment. https://www.kumc.edu/research/alzheimers-disease-research-center/community-outreach/join-myalliance-for-brain-health.html

PSA Many younger dementia patients can pass a pen-and-paper geriatric-based dementia test, as memory may not be a part of the loss of Executive Function especially in FTD or Lewy Body Dementia. 

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/what-is-alzheimers/younger-early-onset

https://www.kumc.edu/research/alzheimers-disease-research-center.html

https://www.theaftd.org/what-is-ftd/ftd-diagnostic-checklist/

Post-diagnosis and at the height of COVID, Steve was granted special permission by the Governor of Hawaii to enter and live where his son was stationed and to welcome his first grandson into the world. Eventually, Steve became homesick and insisted on returning to Kansas and moving to the family farm community he considered 'Home". By the grace of God, The Lighthouse, a rare gem of an agricultural memory care farm in Marysville, Kansas, was equipped to meet the needs of active fit younger onset dementia patients. Steve was offered and eagerly accepted a "farm job" and lived a happy alternate reality of his dream rural farm life fooling many visitors and neighbors with his helpfulness and fun-loving nature. Steve's family will be forever grateful for the TLC given by The Lighthouse Director Mandy Becker, RN, Trent, Lindsey, Pam, Bree, Emily (RIP), Diane, Jen, and the greater Marysville Community. 

Gratitude is also extended to the Pilates Performance & Rehab team for their dedication and compassion which allowed Steve's wife precious time to be a full-time caregiver to Steven for 2 1/2 years and then transition to serve as a military caregiver for their grandson. 

Kinsley Mortuary in Marysville, Kansas is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be at the Mission Covenant Cemetary near the Nanninga family farm. Memorial services will be held in the spring when the family gathers in Kansas.

The final stage of grief has been described not as acceptance, but as advocacy. In Steve's honor, Desima has been serving remotely on the Kansas Governor's Taskforce for Alzheimer's to help design a strategic plan to address the gaps and needs of patients and caregivers and educate healthcare providers. As an EOAD and AFTD advocate, she is also a voice and resource for families of active-fit dementia patients. Specialized care is typically only available via private pay so in Steve's honor, donations will be earmarked for a fund to help meet the unique needs and financial hardships of pre-retirement age younger dementia families.