John Stephen (Steve) Pendleton, 59, former Mat-Su Valley resident, passed away July 6 at the Robert J. Dole Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Wichita, Kansas, where he had resided since September 2006.

Steve was born March 1, 1950 to Howard Dwain Pendleton and Dorothy Mae (Palus) Pendleton in Alliance, Neb. He moved to Caney, Kansas in 1951 and graduated from Caney Valley High School in 1968.

He was a member of the Catholic Youth Organization of the Sacred Heart Church of Caney. He carried the Caney Chronicle for several years before forming a lawn maintenance company that became Steve’s Tree Service.  Young children called him Treeman and the moniker always made him smile. Steve was an avid outdoorsman. Encouraged by his mother, he hunted and fished from an early age. He joined Cheyenne Bowhunters, the Caney-based archery club, and brought home several trophies. Steve’s love of the outdoors was also fostered by the Caney Boy Scouts and Explorers. Steve attended Coffeyville Community Junior College on a music scholarship and graduated in 1970 with an Associates of Arts degree. While at CCJC, Steve joined the Army ROTC and won a two-year ROTC scholarship to attend Kansas State Teachers College at Pittsburg. Due to breaking both legs in separate accidents, Steve was not able to complete ROTC. 

After regaining the strength in his legs, Steve enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1974. He served on active duty with Company C, 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry (Airborne) Division at Fort Richardson until 1978. Steve then served in the Alaska Army National Guard from 1978 until 1980 with the 207th Reconnaissance Group (Airborne), when an injury forced him to leave the service.

After leaving the Army in 1978, Steve settled in Anchorage so he could enjoy The Last Frontier. To support his outdoor activities of hunting, fishing, mountain climbing, boating, and riding snowmobiles, he worked a variety of jobs including sales and tree trimming. He married Delores J. Walrath (Joann) on Aug. 7, 1982. They subsequently divorced.

He built cabins near Talkeetna and Wasilla. While living outside of Talkeetna, he operated a CB radio base and relayed messages for help from people living in the Bush and climbers on Mt. McKinley.

In 1999, Steve returned to Caney to care for his mother, who had been incapacitated by a stroke. He restarted Steve’s Tree Service and did many tree jobs in the Caney area. Steve enjoyed having coffee and talking with his friends at the local restaurant each morning before starting his day’s activities.

In 2006, after paralysis of his legs and metastasized cancer, Steve became a patient at the Veterans Administration Transitional Living Center in Wichita, where he served as the resident council president.

Steve is survived by his brother, Lt. Col. (Ret.) H. David Pendleton and wife, Barbara, of Lenexa, Kansas; his sisters, Lt. Col. Teresa A. Pendleton and husband, David Compton, of Mineral, Virginia; Diann Sewell and husband, Don, of Caney; and Rebecca Taton and husband, Sammy, of Wichita; three nieces, Kyla Robinett of Caney, Kylie Jackson of Wichita, and Cady Pendleton; two nephews, Wesley Sewell of Kansas City and Brian Pendleton; and one great-nephew, Jackson Robinett.

Steve was preceded in death by his father in 1982 and his mother in 2006.

Cremation was performed. A celebration of life will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Caney Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, Steve requested that gifts be made to the TLC, Robert J. Dole VA Center, 5500 East Kellogg, Wichita KS 67218. To leave condolences, visit www.cornerstoneofwichita.com.