Kathy Jean (Korell) Steiner of Addison, TX, finished her earthly course and went to be with Jesus on July 1, 2023, in Carrollton, TX, after a courageous four-year battle against melanoma. She was 73.
Kathy was born in Scottsbluff, NE, on April 19, 1950, to Kenneth and Verna Korell. The oldest of four children in a close-knit family, Kathy was raised on the family farm outside of Bayard, NE, just a few miles from the Chimney Rock monument on the Oregon Trail. As a child, she enjoyed playing outdoors, raising steers for 4H,playing the piano, and singing in church. Kathy went to school in a one-room schoolhouse through the eighth grade, then went on to attend Bayard High School, where she ran on the track team, played powder puff football, performed in school plays, sang in the choir, and played tenor saxophone in the marching band.
After high school, Kathy attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK, where she met the love of her life, Gene Steiner. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education in 1972 and married Gene at the First United Methodist Church in Tulsa, on May 27, 1973.
Shortly after their wedding, Kathy and Gene moved to Dallas, TX, where their daughter Joy was born in 1977 andtheir son Justin was born in 1980. Throughout their life together, Kathy and Gene lived in Dallas (13 years),Denver, CO (13 years), Tulsa, OK (15 years), and then Dallas again (9 years). In each place God called them to, the Steiners put down deep roots in the community and in the local church, serving God together. One example of this was the church care group that Kathy and Gene hosted in their home twice a month for over eight years, resulting in many life-long friendships that Kathy cherished. Kathy could (and did!) make friends wherever she went.
Over her 33-year teaching career, “Mrs. Steiner” was beloved among her students and had the opportunity to speak into the lives of hundreds of children who crossed her path. Gifted in her calling as an educator, Kathy even won Teacher of the Year at the private Christian school where she taught in Tulsa. She loved young people and truly enjoyed teaching.
Kathy had many interests and hobbies. She was known for being an excellent cook, but she also enjoyed reading, traveling, sh
Above all, Kathy cherished her personal relationship with Jesus Christ, her Savior. Her love for God spilled into every area of her life, and she was a committed prayer warrior. It is because of her faith in Jesus that we have comfort and confidence that we will be with her again in eternity.
Kathy is survived by Gene, her loving husband of 50 years; daughter Joy (Ryan) Moore of Buda, TX; son Justin Steiner of Celina, TX; granddaughter Ryley Moore of Buda, TX; grandsons William Steiner and Jackson Steiner of Celina, TX; and daughter-in-law Alyson Steiner. She is also survived by her mother Verna Korell of Scottsbluff, NE; brother Mark (Nancy) Korell of Scottsbluff, NE; and sisters Coleen (Paul) Spinden of Westminster, CO, and Gail Korell (Doug Brown) of Minneapolis, MN, as well as a host of nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins, and hundreds of friends—all of whom she loved very much.
Kathy was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Korell,
A Celebration of Life in honor of Kathy will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at the Hampton Inn, 301 US-26, Scottsbluff, NE 69361. All are welcome to attend.