Sign In
Mary Lou Steffen
Mary Lou Steffen, 76, of Clarinda, Iowa entered into peace Saturday, November 16, 2019 at Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska. Funeral Celebration of Life Services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, November 22, 2019, at Ritchie Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa with Pastor Mitch Grossoehme officiating. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 21, 2019 at Ritchie Funeral Home from 5 to 7 PM with the family greeting friends. Interment will be held at the Memory Cemetery, New Market, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Mary Lou Steffen Memorial. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on our website at, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa, where we ‘Celebrate Life’. Mary Lou Steffen was born June 21, 1943 in Toronto, Canada to R. Edward Harlow and E. Margaret (Burritt) Harlow. She was the daughter of missionaries and lived in several places including Africa for two years while growing up. Mary Lou graduated from Plainfield High School, Plainfield, New Jersey in 1961. She attended Emmaus Bible School in Oak Park, Illinois where she met her future husband. Mary Lou and Valgene Steffen were united in marriage March 29, 1964 in Wheaton, Illinois. They were blessed with five children, Jan, Karen, Linda, Marletta and Bill. Mary Lou and Valgene farmed and raised their family in Taylor County, Iowa. In addition to helping with the farm, when her children were of school age, she worked at the Clarinda Company until its closing as a proof reader and later as the secretary of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mary Lou was devoted to her family. Her greatest enjoyment was her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren; she would light up when talking about her family. She was a woman of faith and devoted to serving God in the best way she could. Through the years, she was active in many churches, teaching Sunday School and Bible School, playing the piano and organ. She would daily send Bible verses to several people with her flip phone. Preceding Mary Lou in death are her parents, Edward and Margaret Harlow; husband, Valgene Steffen; sister, Rhonda Hess; brother-in-law, Jim Hess; in-laws Max and Eulah Steffen; brothers-in-law, Mike Headley and Claude Birge Left to cherish her memory are her children, Jan (Russ) Samford of Bedford, Iowa, Karen (Aaron) Davidshofer of New Market, Iowa, Linda (Jon) Poore of Macomb, Illinois, Marletta (Joe) Helms of Leawood, Kansas, and Bill (Jenny) Steffen of Clarinda, Iowa; grandchildren, Devyn Samford, Eric Samford, Ashley (Josh) Woods, Haley Davidshofer, Levi Davidshofer, Lindsey Poore, Jacob Poore, Abby Helms, Emma Helms, Hannah Helms, Clint Steffen and Layne Brown; great grandchildren, Andi Woods, Jaxson Woods and Jace Woods; brother, Steve (Louise) Harlow; brother-in-law, Wes (Mary Anna) Steffen; sisters-in-law, Zelda Birge and Donna (Lendy) Tyler; nieces; nephews and many friends.June 21, 1943 - November 16, 201906/21/194311/16/2019
Share Obituary:
Mary Lou Steffen
Loading story for Mary Lou Steffen