Steven E. Defenbaugh

Retired Yellow Transportation senior vice president Steven E. Defenbaugh passed away in Lee's Summit, Missouri on July 19, 2025, following a lengthy illness.

He was born in Eben Ezer Hospital in Brush, Colorado March 23, 1948 to Elmer E. and Helen Defenbaugh. He moved to Southern California with his family in 1951, and attended Pedley Elementary School and Jurupa Junior High School in Riverside County. His family then moved back to Brush 1961-1965 where he attended Central School and Brush High School, and was active in 4-H there showing and judging cattle and eventually becoming the 4-H president for Morgan County. During this time he enjoyed many visits to his grandfather A.K. Fender's horse ranch in nearby Akron, where he learned how to care for and ride horses, and began an interest in art by sketching and drawing with his grandfather on the ranch.

Mr. Defenbaugh moved back to Southern California with his parents in 1965, graduating from Ramona High School in Riverside in 1966. He attended Riverside City College and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Tulane University.

He spent 38 years of dedicated service with Yellow Transportation, a Fortune 500 company. He joined the company at an entry level linehaul dispatcher position in Barstow, California, being progressively promoted to positions of increasing responsibility in New Mexico, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, Georgia, and eventually promoted to Yellow Transportation headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas. His positions included service center manager, area director, director of division terminals, division vice president, group vice president, senior vice president of sales and marketing, and senior vice president of new business development and strategy, the position he held upon retirement in 2007. Following retirement from Yellow Transportation, he served as senior advisor for Florida-based Blue Grace Logistics.

Mr. Defenbaugh was an avid golfer and participated in numerous golf tournaments around the country. He was also an accomplished artist with paintings being featured in Leawood and other Kansas galleries and numerous art shows. The majority of his art was by commission, represented in 20 states, Canada and Greece. He was a member of various art associations and artist coalitions and generously donated works of art to support various charities including the Boys and Girls Club of America, Operation Breakthrough, Heartland Saddle Club for Kids and Animal Haven. Mr. Defenbaugh held a special place in his heart for his hometown of Brush and for Colorado, and over the years purchased and donated cattle for various young people participating in the Akron 4-H community programs, in addition to establishing a financial scholarship at Brush High School for a graduating student.

Mr. Defenbaugh was preceded in death by his father; and wife, Tess Edsinga Defenbaugh whom he married in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1969. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Mullen Defenbaugh, Lee's Summit, Missouri; daughters from his first marriage, Cherie Curtis (Scott), Overland Park, Kansas, and Dencia Golfinopoulos (Dimitri), Leawood, Kansas; grandchildren, Trevor Defenbaugh, Overland Park, Kansas; Trenton Defenbaugh (Anna), Springfield, Missouri; Alexandra Golfinopoulos and Steven Golfinopoulos, both of Leawood, Kansas; mother, Helen Defenbaugh, Reno, Nevada; sister, Jackie Frady (Steve), Reno, Nevada; nephew, Michael Frady (Dominique), Reno, Nevada.

An interment ceremony was held on August 13, 2025, at the Akron, Colorado cemetery under the auspices of the Bowin Funeral Home, with Mr. Defenbaugh's sister Jackie Frady presiding. Tributes were offered by Mrs. Frady, wife Cindy and brother-in-law Steve Frady; and nephew Michael Frady laid Mr. Defenbaugh's ashes to rest. A Celebration of Life followed at The Mav in Fort Morgan, Colorado.