Steven L. Odaffer

Surrounded by his loving family, Steven "Steve" Odaffer, 65, passed away on November 20, 2020, at his home, following a five-year battle with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD).

Steve was born on August 10, 1955, in Parsons, Kansas, where he was raised. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1973, following an illustrious basketball career. His senior year, he led his team to a state title, was named the tournament MVP and was designated as one of the top five players in the state.

Following his high school career, he made the decision to attend Independence Community College and then Pittsburg State University on full basketball scholarships. This may have been the best decision of his life, as he met his beautiful "sweetheart" while pursuing his physical education degree at Pittsburg State University. They married on June 3, 1978, and celebrated 42 anniversaries before Steve's passing. If you had the privilege to know Steve and Kipra well, you were blessed to see the devotion they had for each other.

Following college, Steve and Kipra moved many times throughout Oklahoma and Kansas as Steve pursued his coaching career. Steve taught at USD 506 for over 20 years. He started an FCA program at every school where he taught. He was an amazing role model and father figure to all of his students and athletes and possessed an innate ability to make the fundamentals seem exciting and to keep everyone laughing.

Steve and Kipra had three children, Ryan, Tyler, and Krista. As with every other role Steve played in his life, he was an amazing father to his kids.  He taught them to love God, respect others and serve the community.  His kids gave him seven granddaughters, who he adored.  He was often referred to as the "best Papa ever" during family visits.  He loved playing with each of them (especially tossing around a balloon near the end), telling stories and sharing his faith and love for Christ and others.  His granddaughters brought an extra sparkle to his eyes.

Throughout Steve's life, he was very active in church and in the community. He attended First Baptist Church in Parsons and upon moving to Webb City, he attended Christ's Church of Oronogo. He regularly performed mission work and served as a leader for the church youth groups. Steve was a deacon, Sunday school teacher and hosted countless basketball clinics for kids over the years.

Steve had many hobbies and remained active until FTD confined him to a wheelchair. He loved to fish (especially with his son, Ryan and his dad, Elmo), was always up for a game of basketball, tennis or frisbee golf and loved to watch his favorite sports teams.

Steve would want you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, do your best, and love one another.

Survivors include:

His wife – Kipra A. Odaffer, of the home

One son – Ryan Odaffer, his wife, Lindsey, and their daughters, Kate and Brooklynn, of Carl Junction, Missouri

One daughter – Krista Thompson, her husband, Corey, and their children, Brailyn, Kloey, Bree and Kynzee, of Willard, Missouri

One sister – Opal Odaffer of Parsons, Kansas

One brother – Glen Odaffer of Rockmart, Georgia

One sister-in-law – Lynda Schaak of Lakeland, Florida

Many family and friends

He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmo and Imogene Odaffer; one brother, Victor Odaffer; one son, Tyler Odaffer; one granddaughter, Kamry Thompson; and one sister-in-law, Candy Odaffer.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, December 19, 2020, at the First Baptist Church in Parsons. The family will receive friends following the service in the church lobby. The funeral service can be viewed live on the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home Facebook page, which can be reached by following the link on the forbeshoffman.com homepage. For all events, social distancing guidelines will be followed, including the requirement of face masks. Burial of cremains has already taken place at Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons.

Memorials are suggested to the Association of Frontotemporal Disorder (AFTD) or the Peterson Outdoors Ministries and Lodge of Hope. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.