Thomas "Tom" Steadman

1951 - 2021

Thomas "Tom" Steadman
January 2, 1951 - February 27, 2021
Prairie Village, Kansas - Thomas ("Tom") Edward Steadman, 70, of Prairie Village, Kansas, passed away peacefully at his home in The Villages, Florida on February 27, 2021. Tom was born on January 2, 1951 in Dallas, Texas. Tom, the oldest of three children born to Jack W. Steadman and Martha Steadman, spent his early childhood in Texas until the family moved to Kansas City in 1963. Tom graduated from Shawnee Mission South High School and went on to receive a bachelor's degree in Industrial Design from the University of Kansas.
Tom had a gifted creative mind and passion for art, a love of geology and a fascination with construction - be it buildings, homes, or municipal projects. He began his career at Worlds of Fun, followed by nearly two decades at Hunt Midwest Real Estate Development, Inc., where he served as Vice President and General Manager. He also worked for the Kansas City Chiefs as a consultant for the renovation of Arrowhead Stadium. He retired in 2009 and pursued his lifelong dream of working as a professional artist.
Passionate about charitable work, Tom applied his many talents helping numerous organizations and causes, notably the Salvation Army by designing and building a new homeless shelter for the Kansas City-North Area, along with his yearly Christmastime bell ringing outside busy stores; informally counseling those in transitional living facilities to carry a message of strength and hope; and, leading the design and construction of the "Pollywog Pond" for the new outdoor education initiative at his daughters' rebuilt elementary school following a devastating fire, along with many other charitable activities.
Tom's happiest days were spent with his family, whether it was bringing his daughters along to the hardware store or taking care of his beautiful yard. He could make or fix anything inside the home or out, and spent his final years channeling his creative energy into light sculptures and water features. He will also be remembered for his excellent sense of humor (especially his gift for puns!) and for his loving, kind demeanor and desire to help others.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Martha Steadman. Tom is survived by his daughters Kate Steadman of Gaithersburg, MD and Anne Steadman of Park City, UT; sister Barbara Selders of The Villages, FL; brother and sister-in-law Don and Julie Steadman of Waco, TX; step-mother Mrs. Judy Steadman of Prairie Village, KS; former spouse Linda Steadman of Park City, UT, along with his many nieces and nephews and numerous friends.
Tom's loving family and friends plan to celebrate his vibrant life at a service later this year in Kansas City. Please contact Kate or Anne for information. Donations in his memory may be made to the Children's Mercy Hospital Foundation: Martha Steadman Pediatric Research Fund or to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - Johnson County, sent to P.O. Box 19025, Lenexa, KS 66285.