Steffen, Ralph J.

Ralph J. Steffen, 79, of Dyersville, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Luxemburg, with burial in the church cemetery. Officiating will be the Rev. Phil Kruse with the 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 Oct. 6, 1953, in Earlville, Iowa. Together they began farming near Luxemburg. Ralph served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957 at Fort Sill, Okla., and returned to farming until retiring in 1989. He started the Garst Seed Dealership in the 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, Barbara (Steve) O'Brien of Dubuque, Betty (Mark) Brimeyer of Balltown, and Judy (Pat) Mensen of Petersburg; one son, Larry (LuAnn) Steffen of Iowa Falls; 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; and eight great-grandchildren, Connor and Brevin Maiers, Becca, Bryce and Danielle Ploessl and Drake, Kaden and Skyla Steffen.

Also surviving are three sisters, Virgie (Irvin) Singsank of Luxemburg, Germaine Wilwert of Riverbend in Cascade, and Joan (Jim) Esch of Dyersville; and 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, and Esther Steffen of Edgewood.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Joey and 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); and brothers and sisters-in-law, Norb Wilwert, John (Helen) Freiburger, Vince and Carl Freiburger, Irene Freiburger, Grace Freiburger and Eva Mae Weigel.

Memorials are preferred.

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