Steffen, Esther Naomi 1927-2015

STEFFEN, JOHNSON, SCHOOLEY, RYAN, BYERS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 5/30/2016 at 16:21:07

The Record
Montezuma, IA
Feb. 19. 2015

ESTHER NAOMI STEFFEN

Esther Naomi Steffen, 87 of Montezuma, passed away Saturday, February 14, 1015 at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 19, 2015, at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma. Visitation will begin after 12 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 with the family present from 5-7 p.m. at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma. Memorial contributions may be directed to the West Liberty Church or the Montezuma Fire Department.

Esther Naomi Steffen was born on July 8, 1927, in Poweshiek County, the daughter of Everett and Nina Johnson Schooley. She was raised on the farm and attended country school in the Deep River area. She graduated in 1944 from Barnes City High School and then attended William Penn for two years. She married Harold Steffen in October of 1947. They farmed in the Gibson and Deep River areas. Esther and Harold raised their sons Mike, Donald, Thomas and Leroy. Following Harold's death in 1976, Esther worked as a secretary at the Christian Reform Church in Oskaloosa, at the ACT Testing Center in Iowa City and in the Poweshiek County Courthouse Clerk of Court's Office.

Esther loved her family and loved to bake and cook for them and her friends when they stopped by. She also enjoyed cutting quilt blocks, bird watching, gardening and looking at her many cookbooks. She belonged to the Gibson Garden Club and the West Liberty Church.

Esther is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harold; and her son, Mike in 2009.

She is survived by her sons, Donald Steffen of Des Moines, Thomas Steffen of Deep River and Leroy Steffen of Carlisle; her sisters, Barbara Ryan of Pleasantville and Sarah (Myron) Byers of Montezuma; as well as several nieces, nephews, and many friends.