Jeri (Geraldine) Mae Steffens, 91, of Clinton, passed into the arms of our Lord on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Truman Lake Manor in Lowry City, Missouri.
She was born in Ernestville, Missouri, on November 6, 1931, the daughter of Norbert and Amalia “Molly” Oetting Lueck. She was baptized at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Ernestville as an infant, and confirmed as an eighth grader in 1945 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Emma, Missouri. The family lived in Blackburn where she was raised on the farm. She often spoke of how much she loved farm life, helping her father in the field and doing chores, and riding horses to school with her brothers Vernon and Harold.
She was of German heritage and her family spoke both English and Low German in the home.
Jeri attended Zion Lutheran School in Blackburn for six years and Holy Cross in Emma for two. At Alma (now Santa Fe) High School in Alma, Missouri, she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Stan Steffens.
Stan and Jeri were married April 29, 1951, at Zion Lutheran Church in Blackburn. They were blessed to celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2023.
Jeri loved horseback riding and was especially fond of her Tennessee Walker, Jude. She enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. She could play the piano by ear. She also was skilled at hand embroidery, taught by her talented mother. She loved to surprise people by speaking German to them, and especially enjoyed a trip to Germany in 1978 with her mother.
Their marriage was blessed with four children, who survive: Hope (Phil) Seider of Clinton; Scott (Joani) Steffens of Hernando, Florida; Gregg (Pam) Steffens of McKinney, Texas; and Leigh (Keith) Dalton of Clinton.
Also surviving is her husband Stan and eight grandchildren: Shannon (Brian) Crosby of Springfield; Carmen (Tyson) Rathert of Clinton; Alicia (Ben) Russell of Adrian; Melaine Dalton of Clinton; Amanda (Matt) Thompson of Paso Robles, California; Brooke Steffens (Ryan Huls) of Lufkin, Texas; Courtney (Bryan) Ehase of Jefferson City; and Matthew (Priscilla) Steffens of Sturgeon, 14 great-grandchildren: Natalie and Tate Crosby; Nolan and Lane Rathert; Ethan and Mia Russell; Alyssa, Van, and Isla Thompson; Wyatt and Maverick Huls; and Jaxon, Jett, and Charlie Ehase, also one brother, Harold (Hazel) Lueck of Alma. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Vernon Lueck and his wife Frances; and a sister-in-law, Edith Lueck.
One great-grandchild preceded her in death, Luke Tyson Rathert, and we know they are having a joyful reunion in Heaven.
Funeral services were held Friday, August 11, 2023 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, MO where Stan and Jeri were members for nearly 50 years. Pastor William Smith officiatied the service. Special music included “Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art and What a Friend We Have In Jesus, with Leslie Lower as organist. The pallbearers were Brian Crosby, David Lueck, Tyson Rathert, Neal Bredehoeft, Ben Russell and Mark Heims. Matthew Steffans, Rick Ferguson, Matt Thompson, Eric P. Justin, MD, Bryan Ehase and Buddy Scott were honorary bearers. Jeri was laid to rest in Englewood Cemetery in Clinton, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
