Steven D Rowlee

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Steven Rowlee, USNR Petty Officer and Registered Nurse. Steven Douglas Rowlee passed away on April 18, 2024, in Papillion, Nebraska at the age of 58.

Steven was born in Topeka, Kansas on October 6, 1965, to George and Mary Jane (Cooper) Rowlee. As a single, hard-working mother, Ms. Mary Jane (Cooper) Rowlee raised Steven and his younger sister Michele with love, care, and values providing them the safety and security to thrive and achieve their goals. Steven adored his mother and gained his love of cooking and music from her.

Steven graduated from Bellevue East High School in 1983. He picked up many skills, displayed a great work ethic, and learned many life lessons from working in Mr. and Mrs. Harold Semin’s machine shop. Later, Steven joined the United States Navy Reserves. In 1990, as a U.S. Navy Reserves SEEBEE, Petty Officer Steven Rowlee helped build Tent City for thousands of service members for both OPERATIONS DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM in the liberation of Iraq. During his time in the desert, he was also an ambulance driver for his wounded comrades.

After he returned from Active Duty, he enrolled in the Nursing program at Nebraska Methodist College, graduated with his Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, and became a Registered Nurse. During his nursing career, he worked as an Emergency Department nurse at the Nebraska Medical Center and Bergan Mercy Hospital. He used his knowledge, life experiences, and humor to provide a calm and safe place for his patients, which earned him the nickname of “Supernurse!” from both coworkers and patients alike. Steven garnered many outstanding patient surveys, accolades, awards, bonuses, and promotions. At work, he was a tremendous example and mentor; often the nurse that many turned to for help and sage advice. Steven loved his job of caring for people.

In 2002, Steven met Bethany McClanahan, a Respiratory Therapist in Raggedy Ann scrubs in the Emergency Room at Clarkson Hospital, and he knew she was the love of his life. But it took her over a year to realize it and say yes to a first date. Steven and Bethany were married on May 21, 2005, at Calvary Christian Church in Bellevue, Nebraska. They had many newlywed adventures together including trips to Jamaica, The Black Hills, Chicago, Phoenix, Washington D.C., England, and Italy. Steven and Bethany dreamed of starting a family of their own and were blessed with three beautiful children; a son, Cooper, a daughter, Chloe, and a son, Hunter. Steven was the proudest dad you’d ever meet and looked forward to sharing stories about his kids with his coworkers and friends. There is nothing he loved more than being Cooper, Chloe, and Hunter’s dad. Collectively, he called them Team Rowlee, and they were the absolute joy of his heart.

Steven engaged in many hobbies when he wasn’t working including hunting, fishing, gardening, cooking, gaming, and watching his Kansas City Chiefs win football games. He loved sharing his hobbies with his family and friends. Steven will always be remembered for his bigger-than-life personality, his wit, and perfectly-timed jokes, the way he could tell stories, his ability to give honest, straightforward advice, and for how fiercely he loved his family and friends. We’ll always remember him saying “Shazam!” “What’s up Buttercup?” and “It’s an easy win.” We will miss him forever, and he will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

Steven has always had a strong belief in God as our creator and took the opportunity to share his faith with others throughout his life as his own faith continued to grow with the gentle support of his family. He was grateful to his best friend in the whole world, Che Russell, for always believing in him, loving him, standing by him and with him, and speaking truth into his heart and life for over 40 years. On October 9, 2022, Steven made the decision to give a public confession of his faith in Jesus and to accept Him as the Lord and Savior of his life. Che baptized Steven at Calvary Christian Church-Shadow Lake in Papillion, Nebraska. We are thankful for Steven’s decision and for the salvation and hope we have in Jesus.

Steven was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Jane (Cooper) Rowlee. Steven leaves behind many friends and loved ones including his wife Bethany Marie (McClanahan) Rowlee; children: Cooper Douglas Rowlee, Chloe Marie Rowlee, and Hunter Grant Rowlee of Papillion, NE; his sister Michele (Rowlee) Eby and brother-in-law Jeff Eby of Bellevue, NE; parents-in-law: Irwin and Paula McClanahan of O'Neill, NE; brothers/sisters-in-law with nephews/nieces: Christina and Corey Simonson (Caleb, Caitlin, and Connor) of Gretna, NE; Brian and Brandi McClanahan (Kaelyn, Kian, and Madelyn) of Gretna, NE; Angela and Brian Capps (Anthony, Nathan, and Joseph) of Poplar Bluff, MO; and grandmother-in-law: Verna Greene of Ulysses, KS.

Please join The Rowlee family in celebrating Steven’s life at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 at Calvary Christian Church-Shadow Lake, 1510 Papillion Drive, Papillion, Nebraska with a reception to follow at Circle C Ranch, 12118 S. 36th Street, Bellevue, Nebraska.

Friends in Healthcare, please feel free to wear your scrubs in memory of Steven. To honor Steven, donations would be greatly appreciated to be used for Steven’s children and for a scholarship endowment for high school students who would like to pursue a career in Nursing.