Steven Richard Hanisch

Steven Richard Hanisch, 61 of Rockville died Thursday January 2, 2020 at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 25 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Grand Island. Lunch will be served after the service in the dining Hall.

Steve was the son of Dr. Richard G. and Florence E. Hanisch. He was born in St. Paul, Nebraska March 27, 1958. Steve graduated from St. Paul High School. He lived at Rockville, Nebraska for over 30 years. He was united in marriage to Jennifer Blachnik. Steve farmed Rock Creek Farms in Sherman County for several years. He loved fishing, hunting, trapping and being outdoors.  He loved Husker football and was an avid Go Big Red fan!

Steven spent most of his life on the farm in Rockville growing crops and taking care of cattle. Steven was most proud of his time trapping animals. He had a love for the Middle Loup River and the land around it.

With the support of his father, he became adept at farming and managed 1200 acres for many years. He milked cows when his father insisted there would be a good profit. Steven loved hunting and fishing, often speaking about days spent with his two brothers-in-law.

Early in his adult life, he went on a trip with his father and friends to the Artic on a fishing adventure. He loved telling stories to people he met. One such story he was hiking in Yellowstone with his younger sister and they encountered a bear.

His Life was intricately woven with the land and wild life that he treasured. As a young man, Steven canoed nearly every river in the state of Nebraska. A very good friend of his once told him that they were both born in the wrong century.

In 2010, Steven was diagnosed with COPD. His breathing problems gradually caused him to become oxygen dependent. He and his wife, Jennifer enjoyed their time together eating out and traveling. He liked hot beef sandwiches at Lee’s Family Restaurant and also Chinese food at Hunans. They traveled many times to New Mexico and once went on an archaeological field study at Red Willow together.

Steve is survived by his wife, Jennifer; daughter, Natalie; and sisters, Kay Lehman of Marion, Iowa, Jean Vollbracht of Keller, Texas and Janel Reimers of Lincoln, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Florence; son, Nathan Gustav; stepson, Christopher Melling; grandfather and grandmother, Gus and Louise (whom he spent much time with as a child).