Reuben Steffens

Reuben Henry Steffens, 96, of Clermont passed away peacefully on October 19, 2020, with his children by his side at the Ossian Senior Hospice where he had been residing since March 12, 2020.

     Reuben was born on the family farm near Eldorado, Iowa, October 2, 1924, to Edward and Frieda (Vagts) Steffens. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peters Lutheran Church, Eldorado. Reuben began his education in a rural school, Dover #4, and graduated from the West Union High School in 1942. 

     After graduation he worked on the family farm until he joined the Army in 1945. Tech-4 Steffens served in the Pacific Theater and was very proud of his service to his country. After he was discharged from the Army, Reuben attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette and worked at the extension office. It was during this time that he saw a lovely young telephone operator, Mary Christensen, at the telephone office in West Union. A mutual friend later introduced them at a dance at the Oelwein Coliseum. Reuben and Mary were wed on August 1, 1948, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa. They lived briefly in West Union before moving to their own farm four miles west of Clermont, a farm that they would develop and expand over the next thirty-five years. Reuben and Mary raised four children there: Brenda, Alan, Kevin and Karen. In 1983, Reuben and Mary moved to their new home in Clermont, where Reuben continued to have an active role in the farming operation in partnership with Alan. 

     Reuben had always loved farming; he was born to be a farmer. It was Reuben that brought the first registered Holstein to his parents' farm in 1938 as a 4-H project. Reuben would win many awards with this Holstein heifer as well as many other awards in the years to come. Reuben and Mary started simply with five cows and five sows and a few chickens, but through hard work and dedication they added cows and acres over the years and built Reu-Mar Registered Holstein Farm into a very successful dairy operation. Besides his success with farming, Reuben was recognized by Fayette County in 1997 with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award. Both Fayette County and Iowa honored Reuben with distinguished dairyman awards, including Iowa Master Holstein Breeder award. Reuben served for eighteen years as a member/president of the Fayette County Fair Board. During this time, the Fayette County Fair became one of the premiere fairs in Northeast Iowa. Reuben served many organizations throughout his life including president of Clermont Co­op, West Clermont Lutheran church council, 4-H leader, director of the Tri-States Co-op, president of the Fayette County Holstein Breeders, DHIA and other dairy boards, and was a member of the Clermont Legion Post #375. Reuben was very proud of being able to go on an Honor Flight to Washington, DC, and for receiving an Honor Quilt for his service. 

     Besides his passion for farming and his Holstein herd, Reuben had a passion for fishing. He loved fishing for trout in the Northeast Iowa trout streams with his family. He also enjoyed fishing in Texas where he traveled with Mary for many winters. Reuben would go fishing with his buddies while Mary would do her painting and crafts. He also enjoyed hunting for squirrels, turkey, pheasant and deer when he was younger. 

     Reuben was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; sisters, Edna Steffens and Anita (Jack) Parsons; brothers, Erbie (Gerry) Steffens and Lester (Leona) Steffens; brothers and sisters­-in-law, Naomi Stewart, Dick Crowe, Delmar Stewart, Marjorie Wilson and Clyde Wilson. 

     Reuben is survived by his children, Brenda (Mark) Steffens Johnson; Alan (Brenda) Steffens and their children Aaron, Andrea (Brad) Sayles and Aric (Wendy); Kevin (Marilyn) Steffens and son, Jonathon (Krista) and Karen (Marc) Vandegrift and their children, Alison (Sam) and Matt (fiancée, Baylee); seven great-grandchildren and brother-in-law, Roger Christensen and sister-in-law, Ruth Anne Crowe.

Visitation was Friday, October 23, 2020 from 4:30 - 7:00 pm at Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Clermont, Iowa and one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

Funeral Services were at 10:30 am on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at West Clermont Lutheran Church, Clermont, Iowa with Rev. Mike Erickson and Rev. Phil Olson as the Officiants.

Interment followed at God’s Acres, Clermont, Iowa with Military Rites.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Clermont, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.