JAMES STEFFEN

Where do I begin…I guess the beginning.

I came into this world on 7/26/36, the son of the late Milton and Leytha Steffen, and chose to leave on 2/16/22, the loving husband of Sue.

I lived my entire life in Neenah (except when away at college and the Navy), I graduated from Neenah High School in 1954, I then attended Carthage College in Illinois for one year. Realizing that college was not for me, I joined the Navy. I was assigned to the Admiral's flight crew and was stationed out of Newfoundland. I even crossed the Arctic Circle!

When I returned home from the Navy, I was employed by Banta Corporation and then Kimberly-Clark. In my retirement years, I drove for Straight Shots.

I lived the majority of my retirement years with Parkinson's Disease. I was blessed to have a wonderful caregiver.

On Wednesday, 2/9/22, I suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital. You may be wondering why I chose to wait a week to pass, I had a reason. February 16 was the date I met the love of my life and the Lord helped me to hang on one week so I could leave her on the same date I met her. We met on February 16, 1984, and on February 7, 1987, I married the love of my life, Susan (Smits) Steffen. We were blessed to spend 35 years together. She helped me to realize what “family” really  means (she has quite a large one!).  I have lots of wonderful memories of time spent with my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, as well as all the fun times with Sue's family. She and I loved to travel and did a lot with my favorite spots being Florida, Myrtle Beach, and Hawaii (loved seeing the whales)!

I am so proud of my children and grandchildren. I may not have been the best of dads in the beginning, but I like to think I was like a fine wine, I got better with age! My grandchildren meant the world to me! They are all special in their own way and I wish for them nothing but happy memories of our time together.

Besides spending time with family, I enjoyed monthly luncheons with a group of my Class of '54 classmates. I also played cribbage at the Senior Center with a fun group of friends that included my brother Tom, Ruth, and Brenda. I also had a group of friends at my Wednesday morning coffee at the Brigade in Neenah (you guys know who you are!).

I know I've gotten a little long-winded here, so I best move on to listing the ones I left behind. First and foremost, my loving wife, Sue; my children and their spouses, Kathryn and Scott McMillan, Brad and Patty Steffen; my grandchildren and their spouses or significant others: Benjamin and Becca Hamm McMillan, Daniel and Dani McMillan, Sarah and Peter Olson, Allie Krause and Lena Lambrigtsen, Spencer Steffen and Lindsey Larsen, and Adam Steffen; my great-grandchildren: Ryker McMillan and two other special littles.

I am further survived by brother Tom and his children: Amber Dan, and Erik (godson) and Tracey Steffen (Claire and Ethan); Sue's family, my sisters- and brothers-in-law: Darlene Smits, Bill and Renee' Smits, Judy and Paul Gray, Larry and Carrie Smits, Jim Stoffel, Peggy and Brian Johnson, Joe and Holly Smits, and Bob and Lori Smits; my nieces and nephews: Steven, Scott (Natasha), Joe (Evelyn), Stephanie (Ryan), Sarah, Kimberly (Logan), Jennifer, Allison (Matthew), Amanda, Ashley, Bridgette (Nick), Kyler (Anna), Benjamin, Rory, Jackson, Gracie, and Katelyn; and by great-nieces and nephews: Dakota, Sophie, Jace, Wyatt, Olivia, Claire, Abby; and special neighbors: David, Beka, Fritz, Ady, Leo, and Letti Weiss.

And finally, my four-legged survivors: Joe, my newly adopted baby African elephant; and last, but certainly not least, the fury love of my life, my little princess Bella.

I was preceded in death by my parents; my in-laws, Donald “Fling” (my buddy) and Phyllis (wonderful mother-in-law) Smits; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Tom's wife, Sue Steffen; Linda (Smits) Stoffel; Michael Smits; and infants Martin and Marie Smits.

I had a wonderful life, and I thank you all for being a part of it.

A funeral in my honor will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday, February 27, 2022 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 809 S. Commercial St., Neenah, Pastor Jon Strassman officiating. A visitation will be held at church from 11:30 A.M. until the hour of service. Military honors will follow.

My family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors and nurses of the ER, ICU, and 8^th floor at AMC for the special care they provided not only to me, but to Sue also. We would also like to thank Chaplain Ben from AMC and Pastor Jon from Our Savior's Neenah for their spiritual care.

Jim,

Bella and I will miss you everyday. I will love you forever and will cherish always all the memories we made in our 38 years together, 35 of them married. I am at peace knowing you are with our Lord, and especially your buddy, Fling.

All my love always,

Sue