Steven Lee Clabaugh, age 72, passed away on January 2, 2022, at Parkview Haven in Deshler, NE.  He was the oldest child of Lee and Charlotte Clabaugh, born on August 20,1949, in Nelson NE.  Steve was baptized and confirmed in the United Methodist Church in Nelson.  He grew up in Nelson, attending school at Nelson Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1968.  He went on to further his education at Parks School of Business in Denver, Colorado.

Steve met his wife, Jodene Lyon, (of Merna, NE) while living in Denver, CO.  They moved to Lincoln, NE and were married on May 15, 1971.  Two sons, Todd and Travis, were born to this union. Steve began his banking career at First National Bank of Lincoln in 1970.  In August 1977, they moved to Nelson where Steve joined the family banking business with his father at Commercial Bank, Nelson.  Steve was also manager of the family farms where he enjoyed working with tenants and taking care of the family's farm interests.

Steve loved hunting, especially with his sons, brother and father.  He fondly reminisced about the hunting trip of a lifetime where he went moose hunting in Alaska with Todd and Travis and a friend, Clark Cox, from Anchorage.  For many years he enjoyed trap shooting with friends, sharing the camaraderie in competitions throughout the state.   Steve had always wanted to own a motorcycle and purchased a touring bike in the 1990's.  He and Jodene thoroughly enjoyed touring on the bike with friends throughout Nebraska, the Colorado Rockies and the Black Hills of South Dakota on various occasions.  Steve always looked forward to attending the activities of his grandchildren, and very much enjoyed spending time with them at the family's cabin and sand pit in the summers.

Steve was a member of Nelson Community United Church of Christ and served on the Church board in past years.  He was one of the founding members of Nuckolls County Pheasants Forever, a founding member of Nelson Cable TV, a former managing partner of Deweese Biofuels, LLC, and a member of NRA.  Steve served on the board of Nebraska Bankers Bank from 2001-2016, and received a 50-year banking service award from the Nebraska Bankers Association last year.  He also served on the Board of Directors of Brodstone Memorial Hospital from 1991-1997.

Steve is survived by his wife, Jodene, and sons, Todd (Wendy) Clabaugh of Elm Creek, NE, and Travis Clabaugh of Sioux Center, Iowa, and daughter-in-law, Missy Clabaugh also of Sioux Center.  He was blessed with five grandchildren Brooke (Riley) Nichols and Gage Clabaugh of Elm Creek, Andrew Arbogast of San Diego, CA, Nova (David) Harrington of Watertown SD, and Charlotte Clabaugh of Sioux Center.  Steve also had two great-grandchildren, Aloria and Orion Harrington, children of Nova and David.  He is also survived by his sister, Janet (Jack) Podoll of Lenexa, KS and brother David (Lisa) Clabaugh of Beatrice, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Charlotte Clabaugh.

Memorial Services at: Nelson Community United Church of Christ, Nelson, Nebraska
Time of Service: Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 2:30 pm
Clergy: Pastor Ivan & Joyce Dean
Inurnment: Nelson Cemetery, Nelson, Nebraska
Memorials to: Nelson Fire and Rescue Squads
Funeral Home: Klawitter-Price Funeral Home, 446 South Main St., Nelson, Nebraska 68961 Phone 402-225-3301