Gail Steffens

Gail Charles Steffens, 79, of Wiota, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2012, at Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center in Atlantic, Iowa.

Gail was born July 14, 1933, in Atlantic, Iowa, to Ernest and Mae (Templeman) Steffens. He attended grade school through the eighth grade at which time he quit school to help out on the family farm. On May 23, 1953, he was united in marriage to Dolores Downing. Dolores passed away July 10, 1996.

During his working years, Gail drove a cream truck, worked at Skelley's, and farmed.

Our dad loved the farm and farming from a very early age and that is where we could always find him. If we could not find him there, we knew for sure that he was driving around the countryside checking on crops, cattle and neighbors, or driving the lot at Deters looking at the pick-ups. His hobby was his farm. His radios in his shop and the house reflected that, as they were all tuned to KMA for the latest weather or crop reports. We all got a chance, at some time or other, to listen to those things with him.

Gail was always ready with a story or two, maybe a practical joke, and for sure his great smile and laugh. We loved listening to his stories of the "good old days" at Norway Center and some of the pranks that he and his friends pulled on each other over the years. He enjoyed the company of all of us, but especially the times he spent with grandsons Tanner and Turner. You could always find the three of them touring the countryside together, going to Wiota for the Sunday paper and then to McDonalds, or enjoying the many nights being together at his house. Our dad has endured a lot and survived a lot over the years. Yet he kept his head up and persevered and kept on, never losing his smile. That is his lesson and legacy to us all.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Tammy (Kelly) Wise of Atlantic, IA; his son, Brant (Stephanie) Steffens of Wiota, IA; his grandchildren, Brady and Audra Steffens, Richelle Smith and fiancé Dan Bechtol, Aaron and Julie Steffens, Sean and Michal South, Stephanie and Mike Frankele, Tyler and Dee South, Tessa South and friend Brian Hendricksen, Nichole Steffens, Chad and Lori Steffens, Chelsie Steffens, Brienna Steffens, Tanner Steffens, Turner Steffens, Zach Steffens and Misty Fleagle; 21 great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Kris Smith of Atlantic, IA; sisters, Mardelle Harris of Creston, IA and Betty Pettinger of Aurora, CO; sister-in-law, Marge Hetrick of Atlantic, IA and Jerry Downing of Washington; many cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Gail was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores; his sons, Rick and Mike; his parents, Ernest and Mae Steffens; and his brothers, Don (Janet) Steffens and Larry Steffens.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 4, 2012, at Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 5, 2012, at Hockenberry Family Care Chapel in Atlantic.

Interment will be at a later date in the Atlantic Cemetery.