Steven Michael Ramberg died March 25, 2017 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital from complications of a brain tumor. He was surrounded with love by family and friends since his initial diagnosis three months ago. Steve was born in, Owatonna, MN November 6, 1951 and grew up in Hannibal, MO where there were plenty of opportunities to explore nature and have many childhood adventures. Steve went to three high schools, Hannibal High School, Mt. Whitney in Visalia, CA and Washburn Rural in Topeka, KS. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy from Kansas University. He took a hiatus from his studies for self-discovery before attending and graduating from The University of Kansas Medical School in 1982. Steve began his medical career in a shared, part-time internship and continued working less than full time so he could pursue travel and his many interests. His first clinical practice was in the Argentine in Kansas City KS. For the past 23 years he was a physician at First Med in Lawrence KS, where “Dr. Steve” was well-loved by many. He thrived in the personal relationships engendered by his family practice and also through community and family life. Steve married Margaret Rose in Lawrence in 1995 after a friendship that began in college where both worked at the KU Computation Center. Steve said he emotionally adopted Margaret’s two sons, Austin Engling, then age 8 and Mason Engling, then age 11 at the time of their marriage. Mason’s partner Jayme Walden and Austin’s partner Disty Kongkindavong and her daughter Maleah Phommaseng have extended their immediate family. Steve was close to his siblings Linda Joler (Ron), Karl Ramberg, Laura Ramberg (Ed), all of Lawrence, KS, and Erik Ramberg (Karen Byrum) of Batavia, IL, and many nieces and nephews and extended family. His older brother, Jim Ramberg of Topeka Kansas died previously. Steve, like Margaret, regularly displayed artwork in Lawrence art shows. They collaborated on many projects. His photographs captured panoramic nature scenes and scans of arranged flora and fauna which were then printed on large format pigment printers. He had many interests which included gardening on a large scale on communally owned land north of Lawrence in Jefferson Co. which he called “The Farm”. The woods was his church. He loved to rescue native trees which had fallen and have them milled into boards for various projects. He also has an extensive book collection of science and health related issues as well as art, photography and Eastern philosophy. The family wishes to acknowledge their deep appreciation to all the people who have expressed their love and support through thoughts and actions. You have our gratitude. A community memorial is being planned for the near future.
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