STEPHEN BRODERSON

1952 - 2024

STEPHEN WILLIAM BRODERSEN Stephen William Brodersen, 71, of Lansing, Kan., died Wednesday, January 31, 2024, at St. Luke's Hospice House. He was born September 7, 1952, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of William Earl and Marguerite Agnes (Jordan) Brodersen. On May 12, 1973, Stephen married the love of his life, Mary Lynn Schad, in Northfield, Minn. She survives at the home. He is also survived by two daughters, Elizabeth (Erik) Jorgensen of Lansing, Kan., and Sr. Catherine Brodersen of Hamden, Conn.; four brothers, Thomas (Mary), Mark (Gail), Michael (Teil) and Gregory; a sister, Anne Varley; and three grandchildren, Dalton, Sawyer and Cassidy Jorgensen. In 1972 Stephen was drafted into the Army; in 1979 he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Air Defense Officer. He retired as a LTC in 2000 with over 27 years of active service. After retirement from active duty, Stephen worked for the DOD as the Chief of Concept Development for the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command. He specialized in the areas of concept development, space doctrine, space education, organizational and operational architectures, and space support to maneuver commanders and he served as the project lead for the Army Space Concept. In 2020 he retired from civil service. Throughout his 47 years of total service to our country he received numerous honors and awards to include the Legion of Merit and the Superior Civilian Service Medal. Despite his many professional accolades Stephen was a humble man who always placed his family as his highest priority. His wife of over 50 years was the light of his life and he lived his entire life in selfless devotion and sacrifice for his family. He adored his children and grandchildren and there was nothing he enjoyed more than supporting them in all their activities and endeavors. Coming in a distant second to these things would be golf, fishing, fine cigars, bourbon and star gazing. Stephen was also a man of deep faith and had the patience of a saint. To all of those who knew him well he was a model of integrity, service and commitment. To his immediate family he was simply "Papa" - a name that became synonymous with unconditional love. Visitation beginning with praying the rosary will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, February 9, 2024, at R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024, at St. Francis de Sales Church with Fr. William McEvoy as celebrant. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to The Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 295 Benham St., Hamden, CT. 06514.