Steven L. Stockham, DVM, MS, passed away on Nov. 14, 2019, from complications of cancer at the age of 71 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House, Manhattan, Kansas. He was a veterinary clinical pathologist and spent 47 years in the veterinary profession.
Family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2019, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan, Kansas. A graveside service and celebration of life will be held beginning at 11 a.m., Nov. 23, 2019, at Freemount Lutheran Church near Lindsborg, Kansas.
Stockham was born Aug. 25, 1948, in McPherson, Kansas, the son of Lloyd C. and Maureen M. Stockham. He graduated from McPherson High School in 1966, earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Kansas State University, a master of science from Michigan State University, and was board certified as a veterinary clinical pathologist in 1980. He married Marcia G. Lundquist on Aug. 15, 1970, at Freemount Lutheran Church near Lindsborg, Kansas.
He was a captain in the United States Air Force from 1972-1974, serving as the base veterinarian at Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. He also practiced veterinary medicine in Caldwell, Idaho, and Salt Lake City, Utah, before entering a residency program at Michigan State University in 1977. Upon completion of the residency, he became a faculty member and taught veterinary students at the University of Missouri from 1981-2001 and Kansas State University from 2001-2016. He was passionate about teaching and had a positive impact on hundreds of students. He received numerous local, national, and international teaching awards including the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology Educator Award and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award. He was inducted into the European Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Hall of Fame, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology. He coauthored two editions of a highly respected textbook and published numerous articles.
Stockham was an avid golfer and participated in league bowling for many years. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, American Society for Clinical Veterinary Pathology, European Society of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, honorary member of the European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, lifetime member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Kansas State University Veterinary Alumni Association.
He enjoyed the outdoors and accompanied Boy Scouts to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and made several trips to the Boundary Waters of northern Minnesota as well as many other canoe and camping trips when he served as scout master of Troop 706 in Columbia, Missouri. He attended and participated in sports, school and scouting activities of his sons. In later years he enjoyed traveling with family and friends, taking care of his home and yard, and playing with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Marcia; son Lt. Col. Erik Stockham and his wife, Jessica, of Arlington, Virginia; son Dr. Mark Stockham and his wife, Dr. Jessica Stockham of Lawrence, Kansas; grandchildren Roland, Margaret and Abigail Stockham; sister, Diane Mattingly of Kansas City Missouri; stepsisters Janet Helms (Larry) and Jackie Bohnenblust (Fred) of McPherson, Kansas; sisters-in-law Kathy Windall (John) of Tucson Arizona, Pauline Stockham of Roeland Park, Kansas, and Trudy Stockham, Norton, Kansas; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Maurine Stockham, stepmother, Jeanette Geiman Stockham, and brother, Norman Stockham.
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