Stephen Glen "Steve" Trantham

Stephen Glen "Steve" Trantham passed away suddenly at home on December 3, 2025. Born February 7, 1951, he was the only child of Glen and Annabelle Trantham and grew up on the family farm near Fair Grove, Missouri. After graduating from Fair Grove High School, he earned a degree in Agriculture from the University of Missouri where he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity.

He balanced the demands of the family cattle farm with a distinguished professional career in which he served 42 years, retiring as Associate Vice President of Regional Production Services with Cooperative Resources International. When speaking with ranchers in the field or colleagues in the laboratory, Steve easily bridged the worlds of practical ranching and scientific inquiry in the cattle industry.

Over the course of his career, he managed facilities for GENEX facilities in Montana, South Dakota, Louisiana and Alabama, as well as on projects in Brazil and India. In 2019, the Beef Reproduction Leadership Team honored him with the Service to Industry Award at the Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Symposium in Knoxville, Tennessee.

An avid fisherman, he enjoyed trips to Alaska, Louisiana and Brazil with his fishing buddies. He was adept at making friends everywhere he went. At home, he maintained a garden, loved to cook, and had skills for creating eye-appealing meat trays for gatherings.

At the heart of his life was his 49 year marriage to Kathleen. He was a loving father to Wesley, Wade and Shannon. Family gatherings were his favorite with good food and fun conversations.

He leaves behind his wife, Kathleen Trantham, Wesley (Tammy) Trantham, Leland Wade Trantham, Shannon Sparks (Jason) and canine companion, Ringo. He was preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Annabelle Trantham; and his in-laws Leland and Flossie Shamel, who thought of him as their son.

He will be missed greatly by his family, countless friends and colleagues. Services will be held Sunday, December 14, at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield; visitation from 2:00 – 4:00 PM and Memorial Service from 4:00 – 5:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Care to Learn – Fair Grove. https://caretolearn.org/fairgrove/