REINBECK    - Grace E. Stephan, 97, died Friday, May 31, 2002 at Parkview Manor, Reinbeck of natural causes.

A Funeral Liturgy was celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, June 3 at the Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Reinbeck with Rev. Dennis Quint officiating.

Burial was in the Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Reinbeck.

Visitation was after 9 a.m. Sunday, June 2 at Hand Funeral Home, Reinbeck, where the family greeted friends from 4 to 6 p.m. There was a 5:45 p.m. Rosary Service followed by a 6 p.m. Vigil Service at the funeral home.

Grace was born May 27,1905 in New Hampton, the daughter of Jay and Frances (Pates) Stone. She graduated from New Hampton High School in 1923. She taught school in rural Chickasaw County. She was united in marriage to Christopher Stephan on June 14, 1927 at St. Michael's Catholic Church, Nashua.. The couple lived in New Hampton before moving to Reinbeck in 1936 where they opened Stephan's Bakery. They continued to operate the business until 1968. Grace was a charter member of  the Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, Reinbeck, a member of the Catholic Foresters Women's Group, the Altar and Rosary Society and the American Legion Action Post #242 Auxiliary, Reinbeck. 

Survivors include four sons, Kenneth (Shirley) Stephan, Austin, MN, Robert (Jean) Stephan, Donald (Lois) Stephan and Bruce (Diane) Stephan, all of Reinbeck; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; four great great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Chris, in 1975; three sisters and one brother.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; June 4, 2002 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters