Steven K. Sanborn

Steven Kitt Sanborn (age 76), beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away surrounded by his family on March 14, 2025 at The University of Kansas Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born April 5, 1948 in Kansas City, Missouri to Alice H. (Rodkey) and Morris M. Sanborn. Steve lived the majority of his life in Manhattan. He attended public schools in Manhattan and graduated from Manhattan High in 1966. From 1966 to 1968 he attended Manhattan Area Technical College where he completed the Power Mechanics program. In October of 1968 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served until 1970 when he was honorably discharged.
He met his wife Teresa A. (Gehrt) Sanborn in December of 1970. They were finally married on November 19, 1979 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. They celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary in 2024.
Steve spent many years working in the construction and welding industry. He worked for Walters-Morgan Construction, Shilling Construction, Lee's Welding & Fabrication, and Coonrod & Associates. Many examples of Steve's work can be seen around the Manhattan area and on the KSU campus, the Beach Museum of Art in particular. Steve also worked jobs as a mason tender with M.C. Culbertson and P.L. Culbertson (Teresa's Uncles). M.C. And P.L. taught Steve about life in general as they did about mixing mud. Steve did truck repair as the co-owner of S&S Truck Repair and later independently.
Steve had many interests over his lifetime. He liked hiking in Colorado and riding dirt bikes with Richard, going to art museums and looking for arrowheads in Deep Creek with Teresa, looking for Coca Cola antiques with Betty, cooking international cuisine, road trips with his family, discussing internal ballistics with Doug, going to the Dusty Bookshelf with Stephanie, finding the best cup of Espresso in Manhattan with Rachel, going to the drag races and listening to music at Campus East with Kent, appreciating fine hand tools and edged weapons with Martin, finding the perfect mid-size chainsaw with Blaise, exchanging dirty jokes with Melissa, browsing his favorite pawn shop (American Cash Exchange), understanding electrical circuits and the statute of limitations with Stan and Jim, the best way to join two dissimilar metals with Lee, completing extreme home renovations without a permit with Brian, and going for night time runs at Bishop Stadium with nothing but his thoughts. His passion for the outdoors and all things automotive (especially Chevy trucks) inspired more people than he knew to go for a hike, or find a new project vehicle to drag home.
He is survived by his wife Teresa A. (Gehrt) Sanborn, his daughter Stephanie (partner Jeff Grizzle and his son Jedidiah), his son Brian (wife Melissa), and grandson Blaise, as well as cousins (Courtney Dean, Kent Dean, Clyde (Kitt) Rodkey III, Brian Rodkey, and Paula Jean Rodkey Shawa).
The visitation will be Sunday, March 23 from 2pm - 4pm at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan. with a reception to follow.
A private military service will be held for the family at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Steve Sanborn Memorial Fund at Sunflower Bank to help the family cover Steve's medical expenses.
Additionally, there is a Venmo account for those who wish to donate using that convenience @SteveSanbornMemorialFund.