Stephanie Shannon Wacker

Wichita, Kansas – Stephanie Shannon Wacker, 56, passed away peacefully in the early morning of September 14, 2025, at Olathe Health Hospice House, on the University of Kansas Health System campus in Olathe, Kansas, after a fiercely hard-fought battle with stage IV metastatic melanoma.

Steph was born in Wichita and spent her school years here. She attended Kensler Elementary School, Wilbur Middle School, Northwest High School, and Metro Meridian High School, graduating in 1987.

Steph was a prolific reader her entire life. Anxious to know what everything “said”, from billboards to the daily mail, she began begging to learn to read almost as soon as she could talk. Her mother gave in, made some flash cards, and began teaching her to sight read as early as 3 years of age. By the time Steph got into kindergarten, she was already reading well enough to have her own small collection of books.

She had a fanaticism for good food starting in junior high, and this fanaticism eventually led to a career. Just like needing to learn to read, she had a keen desire to know what was in everything she ate. Not because she was being picky: she genuinely needed to know what every single ingredient was. She wanted to learn to cook as a child but, unfortunately, her mother hated to cook. So she started teaching herself, and from her first job in high school at an Arby’s, she worked her way up to server at an Asian restaurant by the time she’d graduated, then to assistant manager at a pizza place, then to bartender at a local hotel. Later, when her love interest, Kevin, transferred in his job to Philadelphia, she moved with him and immediately got a job as a server in the hotel restaurant business there. Again, she worked her way up to bartender, and then her sincere interest in food preparation caught the attention of the hotel’s executive chef, and with his guidance, she eventually became a sous chef, assisting the exec chef in running the kitchen and preparing dishes for hundreds of Pennsylvanian business executives at a time.

When Kevin’s job brought them back to Wichita, Chef Steph announced herself burnt out on cooking for hundreds of people, so she retired “really early” and satisfied herself with cooking for the two of them. Not just cooking. As Kevin can testify, she prepared exceptionally good food, exceptionally well.

Steph also made good and lasting friends, in whatever endeavor drew her interest, and while she was still healthy, she enjoyed bicycling in all its forms. She was actively involved with Bike Walk Wichita for several years and never lost her interest in their goals and activities.

She leaves behind her husband, Kevin Brissey; her mother, Susan Kandt; her stepfather, Mike Kandt; her father, Larry Wacker; her stepmother, Cathy Wacker; her aunt, Barb Robins; her fave “Cuz”, Fletcher Robins; Fletcher’s partner Kathy Erickson; extended families on her parents’ and step-parents’ sides; her two beloved cat children, Sookie and Bogie; and a whole lot of beloved friends.

Steph chose cremation, and a Celebration of Life will be announced and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to WAAL (Wichita Animal Action League).