Gerald William Steva 1915-2001

STEVA, SMOCK, HALE, WACHTER, BEAN, GROSKURTH, HARTWIG, WINANS

Posted By: Paul Moritz (email)
Date: 12/20/2010 at 06:59:11

Funeral services for Gerald Steva were held Tuesday, October 23, 2001 at 11:00 a. m. in the Garden Methodist United Methodist Church at Monona, Iowa. The Reverend Dennis Gilbert officiated. Priscilla Miene was the organist with special music by a men's quartet consisting of Jackson Turner, John L. Wachter, John F. Watcher, and Eric Temte. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery at Waukon, Iowa. Casket Bearers were Jason Groskurth, Brent Wachter, Josh Winans, Dennis Steva, Keith Steva, Bob Hartwig, Jr., B. R. Withers, M. D., Kevin Nuehring, Mark Zieman, and Honorary Casket Bearers were Lyle Zieman, Robert Schneider, Darrel Worden, Marlyn Nuehring, Ron Burger, Cleo Heying.
Gerald William Steva, the son of William Frederick Steva and Eva Mae Smock Steva, was born May 12, 1915 on a farm in Delhi Township, Delaware County, near Delhi, Iowa. He passed away Friday, October 19, 2001 in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville, Iowa. He had reached the age of 86 years, five months, and seven days.
At the age of three, the family moved to Monona. He attended the rural school near his home and graduated from Monona High School in 1933. For a few years Gerald worked as a herdsman on a dairy farm near St. Charles, Illinois.
On January 26, 1947 Gerald was married to Charlotte Emily Hale at the home of her parents in Waukon. To this union two children were born. They farmed near Waukon and in 1950 they moved to the farm between Postville and Luana. Gerald was a Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for three years. He had also been implemental in establishing a Farm Bureau office in Allamakee County at Waukon.
Gerald enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchild. He liked to farm and enjoyed visiting with his neighbors and fellow farmers. Gerald was active in both the community and politics. He liked history and could tell many interesting stories about events in Allamakee and Clayton Counties. He liked sports and especially enjoyed watching the Green Bay Packer and Iowa Hawkeye games.
Gerald was a member of the National Dairy Shrine at Madison, the National Brown Swiss Association as well as local and state dairy associations, including DHIA.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Charlotte, who died April 2, 1980.
Surviving are his children, Nancy and husband, John Wachter of Prairie du Chien, WI and William Steva and wife, Jane of Luana; grandchildren, Brent Wachter of Albuquerque, NM, Ann (Josh) Winans of Manchester, NH, Carol and Gregory Steva of Luana, step grandchildren, Kristy (Mark) Bean of Decorah and Jason Groskurth of Arlington, IA; one great granddaughter, Leah Marie Bean; a brother, Donald Steva of Postville and a sister, Shirley and husband, Robert Hartwig of Little Cedar, IA.

11/1/2001 Waukon, IA newspaper