Steen, Darrel William (1948-2018)

STEEN, BRASS, COSTIGAN, WHALEY, MEYER, SCHAEFER, HEITLAND, COSTIGAN, KAISER, FISHER, BYE

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 5/25/2018 at 21:48:38

Darrel William Steen
November 4, 1948 - April 1, 2018

Darrel William Steen was born to William and Minnie (Brass) Steen in Buffalo Center, Iowa, on November 4th, 1948, and passed away after a short fierce battle with cancer at Rochester Methodist Hospital on Easter Sunday, April 1st, 2018, at the age of 69.

Darrel chose this quote from "Iowa – An American Portrait" to sum up his life growing up with his three sisters on the family farm south of Buffalo Center, “I cannot remember a day when I was growing up in Iowa that I was bored. Each day was a race against the sun, and I cannot recall ever having accomplished as much as I wanted when I tumbled into bed reluctantly at night.” He placed his faith in Christ at the age of 13 after hearing the plan of salvation – a free gift to all who place their trust in Jesus as their personal Savior. He continued to grow in that faith knowing that it wasn't what he had done but in what Christ had done.

Darrel and Mary graduated from Buffalo Center High School with the class of 1967. Happily, they celebrated their fiftieth-class reunion last summer with so many of their friends. A standout athlete in football and basketball, he, also, excelled academically. After graduating, he attended the University of Northern Iowa on a full academic/athletic scholarship. During his time there, he played linebacker for the UNI Panthers before graduating in 1972.

On August 15th, 1970, Darrel married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lauraine Costigan. They were, subsequently, blessed with two children, Allison Lauraine and Jared William. After completing their formal education, they moved to Elk River, Minnesota, where Darrel worked as a Project Manager for ElView Construction in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. In 1979, however, they moved to Lime Springs, Iowa, to farm, manage crop land, and raise their family.

An active member of the Cresco Community Chapel, Darrel had served as an Elder since 1982, and then in 1990, took on the responsibilities of the treasurer. As membership in the Chapel continued to grow, he used his design skills in constructing the auditorium addition and remodeling of the Chapel building. A meticulous and gifted craftsman in the woodshop, he, also, served on the Howard County Farm Bureau Board for several years.

During the last several years, Darrel enjoyed traveling and camping with Mary. Indeed, they enjoyed exploring Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Cape Britton, and Old Quebec and taking fishing trips to Minnesota and Ontario, Canada. Moreover, he found great joy while camping with his grandchildren on long trips in their pickup camper. An extended trip to Alaska in 2012, for example, lasted for seven weeks, and then, they traveled to the Eastern Maritime Provinces of Canada in 2016. In the fall, they looked forward to football and the Green Bay Packers. In addition, Darrel enjoyed upland game bird hunting with his German Shorthairs and German Wirehairs. Without saying, Darrel loved his family, delighting in his children, their spouses, and his grandchildren.

Darrel is survived by his wife, Mary; his daughter, Allison (Bryan) Whaley, and her children, Shea and Quinn, of Eagle Grove, Iowa; his son, Jared (Kristi) Steen, and his children: Wyatt, Bryce, Britton, and Jette, of Andover, Illinois; his sisters: Frances Meyer, of Buffalo Center, Iowa, Marlys (Robert) Schaefer, of Britt, Iowa, and Bev (Jeff) Heitland, of Winona, Minnesota; his brothers-in-law, Tom (JoAnn) Costigan, of Litchfield, Minnesota, and Larry ‘Mick' (Lois) Costigan, of Newport, Minnesota; and his sisters-in-law, Christina Costigan, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Dixie Costigan, of Spokane, Washington; as well as by beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Minnie (Brass) Steen, his grandparents, Dick and Henrietta (Kaiser) Steen and Ehme and Jennie (Fisher) Brass; his parents-in-law, Laurence and Marjorie (Bye) Costigan; and his brothers-in-law: Gary Meyer and Pat and John Costigan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Cresco Community Chapel fellowship hall/multipurpose expansion project.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Cresco Community Chapel, Cresco, Iowa, on Friday, April 6th, 2018, at 11:00 with visitation for one hour before the service and also on Thursday April 5th, from 5:00 to 7:00. Interment will follow at a later date in Buffalo Center, Iowa.

Hindt Funeral Homes, Cresco, Iowa, 2018.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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