STEPHEN ALAN MELCHER, SR. Stephen Alan Melcher, Prairie Village, KS, passed away August 21, 2017, at Menorah Hospital. He was born on April 23, 1943, in Galesburg, IL, to Darius Denman and Alma Lee Willson Melcher. He attended Border Star, Pembroke Country Day, and Southwest High School in Kansas City. He received a BA in Latin with highest honors from Williams College in 1965, and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1967. Steve was a commercial banker, working for Continental of Illinois, First National Bank of KC (becoming Executive Vice President), Johnson County Bank in Prairie Village (President), and finishing his career at Commerce Bank of Kansas City (Executive Vice President) in 1999. Steve and Adrienne then moved to Solana Beach, CA, moving back to Mission Hills in 2007. He then joined the Bank of Prairie Village as Vice Chairman and Director. Among his affiliations were Research Medical Center and Health Midwest (Chairman of each), Vice Chairman of Johnson County Community College Foundation (he and Adrienne co-chaired Some Enchanted Evening charitable gala), co-founder and Chairman of Leawood Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of Johnson County Chamber President's Council. He served on six hospital boards, was a Director of the Kansas City Museum, and Treasurer of Kansas City Terminal Railway. He was a member of the Kansas City Club and the 611 Club, Homestead Country Club, Hallbrook Country Club, Loma Santa Fe Country Club (CA), and Indian Hills Country Club. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Adrienne (Childers) of the home, daughter Nicole Melcher (John Martin), Steve, Jr. (Amanda Biers), Ryan (Abby Franklin), stepdaughter Kimberly Wilkerson (Chad Schoenthaler), and stepson Ryan Wilkerson (Christina). He had 12 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Also surviving are siblings Kathy White (Fred), Janet Nelson (Mark), Jim Melcher (Joanie), Nancy Melcher (Skip Hanson), and Carol Hatch. He also leaves his beloved dog, Sammy. Steve was a kind, loving, exceptional man who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at Second Presbyterian Church, 318 E. 55th St., KCMO. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice.

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Published by Kansas City Star on Aug. 27, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for STEPHEN MELCHER

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9 Entries

Jack Miller

August 28, 2022

Steve lived a few houses away from my home in Kansas City. While we were both students at Pembroke Country Day we became good friends. I have fond memories of our time together during those years. We both loved sports and I remember watching what many consider the greatest football game every played between NY Giants and Baltimore Colts in1958 at his home. We played many games of basketball in his back yard. Our friendship continued and he was kind enough to put me up for a few days when I was looking for a place to stay in Cambridge when I beginning my year at Harvard in 1966. We connected the school reunion in 2011 and when I came again to KC in 2016. I was saddened by his death and miss Steve a lot.

Bart Fleming

October 30, 2018

Steve and I were very good friends at Pembroke Country Day, 8th grade. We spent the better part of a summer, about 1957 at each other's house.

I had an antique wire recorder (like a tape recorder, only using wire). we would pretend that we were radio DJs, mostly doing comedy schtick. Steve had a terrific sense of humor, very dry at times, but could get off a great one line. One routine was a before-the-game interview with Rocky Verdant, head grounds keeper at Municipal Stadium. I was the interviewer, Steve was Rocky. I asked him what advice he had for kids who want to be big league groundskeepers. His answer, "Practice, practice, practice. Every time you see a clod, rake it." We laughed hysterically over that. I can still laugh when I think about it.

Years later I used this line in a WSJ online oped piece about professional sports lawn keeping. Sans credit, however.

I also recall the quarter slot machine in his recreation room. you always got you losings returned and could never keep your winnings. I think he learned a more effective twist on that in his banking career

October 25, 2017

Adrienne Meelcher

September 5, 2017

There is no other Steve Melcher. He was a smart, kind, funny, empathetic man whom I will miss for the rest of my life. I was so lucky to find him.

Adrienne C.Melcher

Doug Drake

August 28, 2017

I have loved him totally since 8th grade, through Williams college roommate times, B-school on opposite coasts; on a fabulous trip with Carl Helmstetter and me to Europe in 1964. He was my gallery banker and always a great advisor. He was naturally and inherently the funniest guy i ever knew, even in the distress of his last months. He is irreplaceable and i will miss him profoundly.

Nowell & Ron Bierman

August 28, 2017

Adrienne, what a dear sweet man he was. Ron and I always looked forward to your visits to San Diego, especially Ron since Steve's favorite place to go for steaks was the Red Tractor and that was the only time Ron would eat one. We feel your pain and he will be dearly missed. Love Nowell and Ron

Don Kasle

August 27, 2017

Adrian -- Susan and I were both so saddened to learn of Steve's passing. For so, so many years he was both a great friend and a real confidant. We both did Border Star, Pem-Day and then back to public high school at the same time. While I got to First National before he did (while he was at Continental) we were true compatriots during our many years together at FNB. It was wonderful to have gotten together with the two you when we first moved to SoCal -- before you moved back to KC. When I was back in Kansas City 3 years ago, I happened to run into Steve at Indian Hills CC having lunch with some of his Commerce buddies. It was great to rekindle our friendship and was like we had last seen each other only a day or two before. Steve's sense of humor and kindness to others -- along with his brilliance -- are the things I will long remember about him. May Steve's memory EVER be for blessing.

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