John Stephen Rule was born on February 20th, 1934 to Carl W. Rule and Shirley (Brady) Rule in Saint John's hospital. Steve attended Saint Agnes grades one through high school. He joined the Marine Corps from 1951-1955 and he was honorably discharged. Steve attended SMSU as a member of the TKE fraternity and played football for three years. When Steve and Nancy were married in 1958, he decided to give up his remaining fourth year of football to graduate so he could make a living using his business degree. In 1965, he graduated in the first graduating class of the Drury Breech school of business.

After graduation, Steve briefly worked for Conoco Oil, then Lily Tulip in Springfield, Missouri. On Jeff's first birthday, Steve was transferred to Bardstown, Kentucky for six years. He then went to work at Owens Illinois in Toledo, Ohio where he was head of industrial engineering. He was a plant manager for Symplex in Adrian, Michigan. Then, he decided to move back to Springfield, Missouri, stating "the money wasn't worth it." After the move back to Springfield, Steve worked for Vermillions until his retirement in 1999.

Steve and Nancy moved to their lake house in Lampe, where they lived nine months out of the year, returning for Lady Bears and Men's basketball, football, and Kickapoo basketball. Steve coached his children's sports and was proud that Payne Stewart was the quarterback for his Mighty Mites football team. He was a member of the Sertoma Club, which raises money for the Boys and Girls Club. Steve will be remembered as a great father, husband, grandfather, and provider.

Steve died on November seventh at home with family members around. The family would like to thank his special caregivers and Seasons Hospice for their wonderful care.

He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Bill and Bobby Rule.

Steve is survived by his loving wife Nancy; sons Stephen Rule with wife Andrea, Jeffrey Rule; daughter Jennifer Rule; grandchildren Chris and Trevor Willis; brother Ray Rule with wife Patty; sisters Karen Wilkinson with husband Pete, and Linda Hollis; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, November twelfth at 1:00pm at Klingner-Cope Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S Lone Pine, Springfield, MO 65804.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Boys and Girls Club or a charity of choice.