April 2, 1939-June 27, 2012
CANBY?- Mass of Christian Burial for Gerald Steffen, 73, of Canby will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Canby. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Sunday at Birk Funeral Home in Canby, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. and rosary to follow. Visitation will continue from 9-10 a.m. on Monday at Birk Funeral Home with procession to the church. Burial will be in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Canby.
He died Wednesday, June 27, 2012, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.
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Gerald Phillip Steffen was born April 2, 1939, to Robert J. and Rena M. (Locy) Steffen. He was baptized, confirmed and received his first holy communion at St. Peter's Catholic Church. He graduated from Canby High School in 1957. He started serving in the US Army in October 1961, after serving one year of active duty, he then went into the Army Reserves until 1964. Gerald drove truck until 1965 then started farming south of Canby until the early 1990s. After that he worked for Midwest Aviation in Marshall before going back to trucking for Jacobson Trucking and Viessman Trucking.
On Sept. 25, 1961, he was united in marriage to Diane Svoboda in Clear Lake, South Dakota. To this union five children were born. Diane passed away on July 20, 2001. On Sept. 4, 2004, Gerald married LeAnn (Kragness) Olson in Canby.
He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church. Gerald enjoyed fishing, flying, traveling, and wintering in the south, but his greatest enjoyment was spending time with his family.
Gerald is lovingly remembered by his wife, LeAnn Steffen of Canby; children, Marilyn Opdahl of Marshall, Doug (Bette) Steffen of Canby, Todd (Lynn) Steffen of Canby, Wayne Steffen (Lucinda) of Glen Carbon, Ill., Renae (Alan) Chrtt of Boyd; step-children, Jon Axelsen of Marshall, Peggy (Joe) Johnson of Marshall, David (Lisa) Axelsen of Brookings, S.D.; 24 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; mother, Rena Steffen of Canby; siblings, Phyllis (Howard) Sheley of Hastings, Neb., JoAnn (Roger) Carlson of Backus; and Dennis (Edie) Steffen of Canby; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane Steffen and father, Robert "Jack" Steffen.