Steve Beitz

Steve Beitz, 53, passed away on May 26, 2021 in Topeka. Steve was born September 11,1967 in Lamar, Colorado to Dennis and Wanda (Crowley) Beitz. He grew up in Manhattan, Kansas, graduating from Manhattan High School in 1986. He married Diana Bryan on June 1, 1991 in Lawrence, Kansas. Together, they had one daughter, Kaya.

Steve attended Colorado Mountain College before completing an education degree at Washburn University in Topeka. Steve worked in Topeka Public Schools for 13 years.  He taught at McCarter Elementary and Eisenhower Middle School. Steve felt most at home as a coach. He coached football, wrestling, track, tennis, and basketball at French, Eisenhower, and Jardine Middle Schools. Steve also coached wrestling at Topeka West High School and football at Highland Park High School. After leaving education he worked at AT&T.  During his teaching and coaching career, he received the WIBW Teacher Who Makes A Difference award and was a Disney Coach of the Year nominee.

Coach lived life on his own terms, and never met a stranger.  He loved being outdoors hunting and fishing, doting over his dogs, listening to music, and spending time with family.  He considered family to have a much broader reach than shared DNA. He would invite anyone to spend time with him in his man cave, and was truly happy there rehashing old hunting stories, thinking up new football plays, watching Chiefs football, or just having people to chat with.  He loved his former students and players, and would light up whenever he ran into one of "his kids". Of all of the lives he touched, however, he always believed that his best accomplishment was his daughter, through which he gained an appreciation for musical theater.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Dennis and his mother-in-law Doris Bryan.  Multiple Weimaraners and other beloved pets were also waiting for him.  He is survived by his wife, Diana and daughter, Kaya, his mother Wanda and Grandpa Henry, his sister Lynne Baker and her husband Marc, father-in-law Richard Bryan and Kathy, as well as sister- and brother-in-laws Larry & Pam Leinwetter, Nancy & Rob Peterson, nephews Lee Leinwetter (Laura), Bryan Leinwetter (Melanie), Pete Peterson, Levi Baker (Alex), Riggin Baker, Cole Baker, numerous cousins and a broad assortment of "brothers" and "sisters". He is also survived by his girls (dogs) Rosie and Rumor. He will be living on as an organ and tissue donor, continuing to change lives for the better.

The Coach Beitz Memorial Scholarship has been established through the Topeka Public Schools Foundation.  It will be for students from Topeka West and Highland Park High Schools who have a special adult coach, sponsor, mentor or teacher that has made a difference in their lives.   Memorial contributions can be sent to: Coach Beitz Memorial Scholarship, â"... TPS Foundation, PO Box 5883, Topeka, KS 66605.