Obituary of Ralph Joseph Steffen

Ralph J. Steffen, 79, of Dyersville, Iowa died Thursday, February 18, 2010 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Friends may call from 2 - 9 p.m. Monday, February 22, 2010 at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Luxemburg, Iowa with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be Rev. Phil Kruse with Rev. Raymond Burkle concelebrating. Ralph was born on June 29, 1930, in Luxemburg, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Anna (Meyer) Steffen. He attended Holy Trinity School in Luxemburg. Ralph and Anna Marie Freiburger were married on October 6, 1953, in Earlville, Iowa. Together they began farming near Luxemburg. Ralph served in the US Army from 1955 - 1957 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma and returned to farming until retiring in 1989. He started the Garst Seed Dealership in this area in 1982 and also drove a school bus for 23 years in the Western Dubuque District. He is survived by his wife, Ann, six daughters: Annie (Mike) Maiers of Holy Cross, Pam (Gary) Wessels of Dyersville, Bev (Ron) Ploessl of North Buena Vista, IA, Barbara (Steve) O'Brien of Dubuque, Betty (Mark) Brimeyer of Balltown, IA, and Judy (Pat) Mensen of Petersburg, IA; and one son Larry (LuAnn) Steffen of Iowa Falls, IA, grandchildren: Chris (Ashley) Maiers, Ben (Amanda) Maiers, Jared and Colten Wessels, Dan, Jeff, Mitch, and Dusty Ploessl, Jason (Ardeth) Steffen, Adam Steffen and a special friend Jesse Smith, Joseph and Allison Steffen, Alan Domeyer, Sean, Molly, and Megan O'Brien, Brian, Andrea and fiance, Dan West, and Kevin Brimeyer, Greg, Austin, Morgan, and Kyle Mensen; 8 great grandchildren: Connor and Brevin Maiers, Becca, Bryce, and Danielle Ploessl, Drake, Kaden, and Skyla Steffen; 3 sisters: Virgie (Irvin) Singsank of Luxemburg, Germaine Wilwert of Riverbend in Cascade, Joan (Jim) Esch of Dyersville, IA, Brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Earl (Alice) Freiburger of Manchester, Bill Freiburger and special friend, Eileen Grutz, Leona Freiburger of Delhi, Phil Wiegel of Dyersville, IA, Esther Steffen of Edgewood. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 sons: Joey & Karle Steffen, a granddaughter, Emily Brimeyer, a great granddaughter, Alonna Steffen, siblings: Lawrence Steffen, Leo (Monica) Steffen, Ray (Fran) Steffen, Artie Steffen, Rich (Nellie) Steffen, Marie Goebel-Winter (Larry Goebel and Emmett Winter), brothers-and-sisters-in-law, Norb Wilwert, John (Helen) Freiberger, Vince and Carl Freiburger, Irene Freiburger, Grace Freiburger, Eva Mae Weigel. Memorials are preferred.