Carl Lee Steffen, 74, of Ryan, Iowa, passed away on July 25, 2024, at Regional Medical Center in Manchester. Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, July 29, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ryan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan, with an additional visitation one hour prior to Mass. Reverend Gabriel Anderson will officiate. Burial will take place at Calvary Cemetery, Ryan with military honors.
Carl was born on November 27, 1949, in Manchester, Iowa, the son of Harold and Marcella (Singsank) Steffen. He attended St. Patrick school in Ryan and graduated from Manchester High School in 1968. Carl proudly served our country in the United States Marine Corps, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He married Marilee Lyness, on May 27, 1972, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Ryan; three children were born to this union. Carl worked as a carpenter and farmer in the Ryan area. He dedicated many hours volunteering with the Ryan American Legion Post 692, Ryan Veterans Living Memorial and Ryan Fire Department. He loved spending time in his shop, gardening, golf cart and gator rides with his grandchildren. He was also fond of watching old western movies and MASH reruns. Carl’s family meant everything to him, and he will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Carl is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marilee of Ryan; children, Jamey (Julia) Steffen of Shallotte, North Carolina, Joanna (Chad) Schaul of Ryan, Jay (Colleen) Steffen of Washington, Illinois: six grandchildren, Brady and Dylan Schaul, Amelia Steffen, Molly, Audrey, and Zoey Steffen; siblings, Marcia Gager, Dan (Barb) Steffen, Mary (Steve) Sweet, Margie (Bruce) Schneider, Greg (Mary) Steffen; mother-in-law, Dorothy Lyness; and in-laws, Jolene (Mitch) Ryan, Bill (Stacey) Lyness, and Jerry Lyness.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Marcella Steffen; sister and brother-in-law, Marilyn and Phil Zieser; brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Jean Steffen; father-in-law; Robert Lyness; brother-in-law, Rolly Gager; siblings-in-law, Coleen and Rick Timmons, and Sue Lyness.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Carl’s memory may be directed to the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight or Ryan American Legion Post 692.