Obituary of Eldon Joseph Steffensmeier

DYERSVILLE, IOWA

Eldon J. Steffensmeier, 86, of Dyersville died Thursday, July 13, 2017, at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 16, 2017, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12^th Ave SW in Dyersville where an American Legion service will be held at 7 pm.  Visitation will continue Monday from 9 – 10 am at the funeral home prior to mass.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 17, 2017 at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery where American Legion Post 137 will accord Military Honors.  Rev. Dennis Conway will officiate

Eldon was born July 3, 1931, in Dyersville, Iowa the son of Emil and Monica (Westhoff) Steffensmeier.  He married Clara Mae Menke on December 29, 1952, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Luxemburg.  Together they farmed near Dyersville.  He has been on the Board of Directors at Farmers Shipping for over 46 years and enjoyed playing cards and watching the Cubs.  He loved his red tractors.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 137 and the Catholic Order of Foresters.

Survivors include his children: Joan (Earl) Hosch of New Vienna, Carol (Jim) Meisgeier of Manchester, John (Nancy), Tom (Rose) and Pat (Laurie) Steffensmeier, all of Dyersville, and; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; siblings: Fred (Andrea) Steffensmeier of Farley, Jim (Rita) Steffensmeier of Dyersville, Mary (Charlie) Hellman of Holy Cross and Alice (Rick) Nadermann of Dyersville; in-laws: Eugene Prier , Agnes Steffensmeier, Elaine Steffensmeier, and Rosemary Menke, all of Dyersville.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Clara; a granddaughter, Paula Hosch in infancy; siblings: Gene (Helen) Steffensmeier, Florence (Joe) Meis, Lucille Prier, Art Steffensmeier, and Donald Steffensmeier, Victor Menke, Anton (Rose) Menke, Aloysius (Doris) Menke.

Memorials are preferred to St. Francis Xavier Basilica, St. Francis Xavier Grade School or Beckman High School.

We would like to thank the staffs of the Ellen Kennedy Center, Mercy Medical Center, Shady Rest Care Center and Hospice of Dubuque for the excellent care in Dad’s final months.