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Stevie
Stevie is a collection of personal stories written by Marlene Oxender, a big sister of Steven Kimpel. Marlene was one of ten siblings who learned, back in 1969, that their youngest brother Steven was born with Down syndrome.
The older children knew life was going to change. The younger siblings were simply told the baby was special. Stevie would be needy and would go to a special school. Marlene remembers being excited that the family would be raising a baby who would need special care.
Stevie’s siblings tend to refer to their little brother as “Steven,” though he is best known as “Stevie” to the rest of the world. Stevie is not only an uncle, he is a great-uncle to dozens of children who have grown up way too fast. Many of his nieces and nephews are now adults who have also joined in taking care of Uncle Stevie.
The older children knew life was going to change. The younger siblings were simply told the baby was special. Stevie would be needy and would go to a special school. Marlene remembers being excited that the family would be raising a baby who would need special care.
Stevie’s siblings tend to refer to their little brother as “Steven,” though he is best known as “Stevie” to the rest of the world. Stevie is not only an uncle, he is a great-uncle to dozens of children who have grown up way too fast. Many of his nieces and nephews are now adults who have also joined in taking care of Uncle Stevie.
136 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2023
2 people want to read
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March 7, 2024
FINALLY got to read this amazing collection of stories about an amazing man. I was one of the privileged who got to grow up in the small rural community of Edgerton, Ohio and personally know one of its heroes. Marlene takes us on a tour of Stevie’s life through fun and touching snippets. Laughing at what to most of us would a coming of age story of our first experience on a roller coaster that could have had severe consequences for someone with the health concerns Stevie had. But “It was ok.” The family had a new roller coaster rider (not sure if he ever rode one again).
Intermingled within many of the tales, Marlene asks us to look inside ourselves and how we look at life. I found this very touching. How does our own perception compare to how a very special person like Stevie looks at life? I am number three of a five sibling family. My oldest brother was born just over a month before Stevie in April of 1969.
Stevie passed away on March 1, 2024 just over 2 months shy of his 55th birthday. In the last week, I have lifted him up in prayer and asked if they knew him as I carried this book with me as I quickly read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I often asked myself and others in person and through Facebook posts how many lives this extraordinary man touched… I. Our small village, our corner of northwest Ohio, the four county area (where he excelled as an Olympian as he demonstrated in his role as the best corner 3-point shooter ever), the state, and who knows. I imagine he touched not hundreds but thousands with his enthusiasm for life and his hugs. I was one of the many he always remembered by my last name when we saw each other.
Beautifully written Marlene
Intermingled within many of the tales, Marlene asks us to look inside ourselves and how we look at life. I found this very touching. How does our own perception compare to how a very special person like Stevie looks at life? I am number three of a five sibling family. My oldest brother was born just over a month before Stevie in April of 1969.
Stevie passed away on March 1, 2024 just over 2 months shy of his 55th birthday. In the last week, I have lifted him up in prayer and asked if they knew him as I carried this book with me as I quickly read it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I often asked myself and others in person and through Facebook posts how many lives this extraordinary man touched… I. Our small village, our corner of northwest Ohio, the four county area (where he excelled as an Olympian as he demonstrated in his role as the best corner 3-point shooter ever), the state, and who knows. I imagine he touched not hundreds but thousands with his enthusiasm for life and his hugs. I was one of the many he always remembered by my last name when we saw each other.
Beautifully written Marlene
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