Steven J Nel's Obituary
Stephanus Johannes Nel, 74. "Steve" passed away peacefully from Parkinson’s on Saturday, April 7th 2018 in Sedalia, MO.
Born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa on June 19, 1943, son of Stephanus Johannes Nel and Petronella (Schoeman) Nel.
As a youth Steve loved boxing, singing and driving fast cars. He made a life in Rhodesia where he married Patricia (Bond) in June 1976. After fighting in the Rhodesian war, he moved the family to Cape Town, South Africa where he worked hard as a truck driver, machinist and mechanic and eventually ran his own business as a truck gearbox repair specialist.
Steve loved spending his free time betting on horses, playing golf and enjoying the odd Brandy and Coke. He loved to dance at the weekend "braais", loved watching rugby with the boys and was terrible at playing darts.
Chasing the American Dream, the family moved to Missouri in the year 2000. Steve started out at Walmart, but eventually moved to work at Wabtec in Kansas City and worked on trains until he retired in 2009 to his lake house in Cole Turkey, close to Warsaw, MO.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Hendrik and Piet, survived by his brother Johan and his sister Werda. Steve is also survived by his loving wife Patricia, son Shaun, son Kevan, daughter in-law Judy, grandchildren Chad, Liam and Kelsi, son Darren and grandchildren Kimberly, Connor and Aislin.
Steve’s kindness and dry humour will also be sadly missed by the extended families of the Bonds and the Van Wyks.
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