Shirley Ann Steffen

OMAHA — Shirley Ann Steffen, 84, Omaha, formerly of Fordyce, died Oct. 18, 2020, at the Esprit of Whispering Ridge, Omaha,. She is the wife of George Steffen.

Visitation will be Wednesday, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Constance, from 5:30-7 p.m., with a Vigil service at 6:30 p.m.  Visitation will continue Thursday, at church, one hour prior to services.  

A private family Mass of Christian Burial will be Oct. 22, at 10:30 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, with the Rev. Jim Keiter officiating.  

Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery, Constance.  

Face masks and social distancing are required for the visitation and funeral.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jeff Friedenbach, John Friedenbach, Ryan Nemec, Digger Hansen, Tyler Damme and Troy Paradis.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home,  Hartington.  

Shirley Ann was born to Hank and Hilda (Merkle) Kuehn Feb. 27, 1936, in Yankton, S.D. She began school in Beaver Creek, and moved to Fordyce and graduated from St. John High School. Fordyce. She married George Steffen Oct. 6, 1953, at the age of 17, in Fordyce. They moved to a farm just west of Fordyce. She and George raised their five children there, living on the farm for 63 years, until they moved to Elkhorn in 2016. 

Shirley loved to work hard, she gardened and canned. She was known for her bread and jelly making. She was a member of St. Joseph Church, Constance, and active in the Christian Mothers and Women’s Guild. 

She enjoyed golfing with her husband and friends. She also loved her grandkids and enjoyed baking their favorite buns, cinnamon rolls and pies.

She is survived by her husband, George; her children, Cindy (Mark) Filip, Lincoln; Doug (Kathy Nohr) Steffen, Fordyce; David (Trish) Steffen, Lincoln; Heidi (Rod) Friedenbach, Elkhorn; and Beth (Mark) Nemec, Seward; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hank and Hilda Kuehn; her brother, Jim Kuehn; sister, Sue Hesse; daughter- in-law, Kathy Steffen; and daughter, Audrey, age 2 days. 

Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called children of God. (Matthew 5:90)