Steffen, Fern Louise 1913-2003

STEFFEN, ILLIAN, MCKEAG, SINN, BROWN, WILCOX, MAIN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 12/28/2012 at 11:30:52

The Brooklyn (IA) Chronicle; April 30, 2003

FERN LOUISE STEFFEN, 90

Fern Louise Steffen, 90, of rural North English, died Saturday, April 26, 2003 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

The funeral service will be held Saturday, May 3 at 10:30 a.m., at Watts Funeral Home in Montezuma. Pastor Reva Rimmer of the Guernsey Methodist church will officiate. Visitation will be after 9 a.m., Friday, May 2, at the funeral home with family present Friday evening from 6-8 p.m. A memorial has been established for the American Diabetes Foundation. Honorary casket bearers are her eight grandsons: Mark Steffen, Scott Steffen, Shawn Steffen, Roger Steffen Jr., Allen Sinn, Corey Brown, Kyle Steffen and Matt Steffen. Following the funeral service, the body will be cremated and inurnment will be at the Jackson Township Cemetery at Montezuma.

Fern was born April 11, 1913, at Malcom, the daughter of Benjamin J. and Genevieve (Illian) McKeag. She graduated from Malcom High School. On Jan. 29, 1938, she was united in marriage with Otto Steffen at Newton. To this union eight children were born. They farmed near Ewart, Searsboro, Deep River, Montezuma and North English. Otto died Jan. 7, 1979. Fern continued to live on the farm with her son, Roy, and his family. She loved her family and enjoyed gardening and flowers.

Those left to honor her memory are her seven children, Kenneth (& June) Steffen of Grinnell, Mary Sinn of Williamsburg, Roger (& Mary) Steffen of Guernsey, Sue (& Donald) Brown of Des Moines, Roy (& Faye) Steffen and Bob (& Mary) Steffen, all of North English, and Martha (& Rex) Wilcox of Drakesville; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Otto; one son, Larry; one granddaughter; one grandson; two sisters, Katherine Main and Erma McKeag; and two brothers, Kenneth and Earl McKeag.