Stanley (Stan) Steffens, 94, of Clinton, passed into the arms of our Lord on July 1, 2026.
Stan was born in Alma, Missouri, on October 4,1931, the son of Edwin and Edna Dankenbring Steffens. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Alma as an infant, and confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Flora as an eighth grader.
Stan grew up in Alma, playing basketball and baseball with his cousins. He played basketball on the Alma Bulldogs team, graduating in 1950 from what is now Santa Fe High School. He worked part-time at the local cannery and creamery, where his grandfather, Henry Dankenbring, was manager. He also helped at his father’s harness and shoe repair shop.
He met his high school sweetheart and future wife, Geraldine (Jeri) Lueck, as a freshman. 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.
He was drafted into the Army and sent to Pusan, South Korea, in 1952 by way of Tacoma, Washington; Okayama, Japan; and Inchon, South Korea. He returned home in August of 1954.
He was very proud of his service and loved to wear his Korean War veteran hat to connect with other veterans he met.
Upon his return, he used the GI Bill to attend Central Missouri State College (now UCM) and Northwest Missouri State College to work on a business degree. The family moved back to his hometown for him to accept a position at Alma Bank in 1958. In 1967, he accepted a position as senior vice-president at Citizens State Bank of Calhoun and moved his family to Clinton. He later served as senior vice-president of Osage Valley Bank in Warsaw, Missouri. He retired in 1995 as comptroller of Fajen Gunstocks in Warsaw.
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 are 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; Matthew Steffens, Clinton; and 14 great-grandchildren: Natalie and Tate Crosby; Nolan and Lane Rathert; Ethan and Mia Russell; Alyssa, Van, and Isla Thompson; Wyatt and Maverick Huls; Jaxon, Jett, and Charlie Ehase; and one sister-in- law, Hazel Becker Lueck. He was preceded in death by his sister, Alice Joyce Rolf, of Alma; his brothers-in-law, Milton Rolf, Vernon Lueck, and Harold Lueck; and sisters- in-law Frances Fischer Lueck and Edith Nienhueser Lueck.
One great-grandchild preceded him in death, Luke Tyson Rathert, and we know they are having a joyful reunion in Heaven.
Stan’s confirmation verse: “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
Funeral services were held July 17, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Clinton with Pastor Brock Stockland officiating. The pallbearers were Ben Russell, Brian Crosby, Tyson Rathert, Ethan Russell, Tate Crosby and Nolan Rathert. Lane Rathert was an acolyte and Paule Easterwood was organist. Interment followed in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
