After a long, hard-fought battle with dementia, Stephen P. Kane, age 82, of Hastings, MN, returned to his wife’s side on the afternoon of Monday, October 28th, 2024, surrounded by love and family.
Steve’s life will be celebrated with friends and family at Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel in Hastings, MN on Saturday, November 2nd. Visitation starts at 9am; service at 12pm with a meal following. While Stephen loved flowers throughout his life, he wishes for all memorials to be in the form of a charity donation or planting trees.
Stephen was born October 22, 1942, to Margaret Hild and Stephen Kane in Cannon Falls, MN at the Mineral Spring Sanatorium. His parents were being treated for active tuberculosis infections at the time and this led to a unique birth story and early life for Steve. He was proud to be the only baby born during the Sanatorium’s active patient care, though it did fuel the rumor mills about why the back of his head was so flat. He was quickly transferred to live with his maternal aunt Lucille Fitzpatick and her family until the age of four. This is where he earned his first and longstanding nickname from his uncle Louie who thought he “just looked like a Butch”. When his parents were finally cleared from treatment, he returned home to live with his three siblings Patricia “Pat/Patsie” Jorgensen, Robert “Bob” Kane, and Paul “Doors” Kane. Butch’s favorite early childhood memory was skipping school and ending up at the opening of the new Hastings bridge in 1951. This, and many other stories, came with their share of tall tales that tended to change with each telling. We invite you to spend time remembering your own versions of Butch’s life of adventure.
Butch was always proud of his achievements as a young athlete in basketball at Guardian Angels Catholic School, but the biggest achievement he liked to talk about was being the upper Midwest Bantamweight champion as a Golden Gloves boxer. He also served in the Minnesota National Guard. When he was stationed at Fort Ord in Monterey, CA he boxed against a much larger fighter who knocked him out. As a result, he earned another nickname “Hurri(k)ane” when the referee said, “Your name is Kane, but you fight like a hurricane!” Butch was also fond of his time playing volleyball, horseshoes, and even softball with the Hamm’s Beer team. Butch was often showing off in left field by catching fly balls behind his back!
Family meant everything to Butch. He met Joette R. Simonson early in his secondary schooling. Despite her father’s initial hesitations, he fell in love and they were married on August 28th, 1965 before moving into their home of many years on Oxley Ave just outside of Hastings. There, they raised their three children Brian, Chrissy, and John and nurtured beautiful flower gardens and Butch’s immaculate John Deere manicured lawn. Together, this young family spent many weeks and months traveling around both Minnesota and the rest of the country exploring and camping with friends and family from all over. When they were home, Butch worked a number of jobs he thoroughly enjoyed including selling beer and working at the Hastings Street Department. When he finally did retire, he took on the full time role of Papa Butchie to his eight grandchildren.
Butch was a wonderful husband, a great father, and an amazing grandfather who loved everyone and wasn’t afraid to show his affection with a hug, kiss, and his famous “God love ya!”. He valued his family above everything and was a humble and simple man who cared for his father at the end of his life, visited his mother daily at the end of her life, and cared for friends and their families in any time of need alongside his wife Joey. He will be missed by all, but he is now at peace and with his loving wife in eternity.
The family would like to extend a warm thank you to all the staff who cared for Butch in his final year including Deer Crest in Red Wing, MN, Bluestone Physicians; Oak Ridge in Hastings, MN; and St. Croix Hospice. Your work is so very appreciated and recognized!
Stephen was preceded in death by Margaret and Stephen Kane, his parents; and Paul Kane, his brother; and Joette Kane, his wife of 58 years. Stephen is survived by his siblings Pat Jorgenson and Bob Kane; his children Brian (Nelia) Kane, Chrissy (Brian) Weisz, and John (Ashley) Kane; his 8 grandchildren (Hannah, Grace, Erin, Malaya, Coleen, Therese, Jack, and Charlette); and many other friends and family whom he loved dearly. As Butch would say to everyone, “God love ya!”
For guestbook and further information, please visit www.hastingsmnfuneral.com
Arrangements are being completed by Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.
