Erna M. Steffen, age 93, passed away on Friday evening, December 7, 2018, at her home.
Erna was born to Edward and Elsie (Kahler) Kamke on August 14, 1925, the first of five children and the only girl. She met Edward Steffen in 1949 at a dance she attended with a girlfriend. Ed and Erna were married November 25, 1950. They made their home in Hortonville, where their three children were born. Erna was a stay-at-home mom when her children were young, but she also cooked and cleaned for her mother and younger brothers, as they worked full-time. When her children were older, she held several part-time jobs. Erna and Ed relocated to Greenville in 1973. After Ed retired in 1992, together they delivered the Bargain Bulletin and also delivered bakery for Tastee Bakery in Appleton. She always kept busy! Erna was a good cook, and her family appreciated it! She always wanted to feed you if you stopped by. Everyone loved her potato salad, and especially her apple and pumpkin pies. Even if you had her recipe, it was never quite the same as hers. And of course every get-together she had to make Jello salad. Erna loved her family and friends dearly. She wanted everyone to stay and visit awhile. When you left, you had to promise to call her when you got home so she knew you made it safely. Now we know that she has also made it home safely.
Erna is survived by her three children; Dolores (Richard) Pankow, Hortonville, Wayne (Linda) Steffen, Crivitz and Rick Steffen, Manawa; her ten grandchildren, Chris (Vickie), Scott, Mike, Julie, and Jessica Pankow, Wes (Kristy) and Jason Steffen, and Shayna (Matt) Deschler, Liam (Katie), and Calli Steffen; her three step-grandchildren, Amanda (Jason) Schwabenlender, Amy (Mac) Schuh, and Amber Bates; seven great-grandchildren; ten step-great-grandchildren, and one step-great-great-grandchild. She is further survived by her brother, Marvin Kamke, Appleton, brother-in-law, Dan Henry, Menasha, and sister-in-law, Mary Kamke, Menasha; Ed’s family, sister, Adeline Schwartz, Wausau, brother, Leroy (Kathleen) Steffen, Webster, brother, Gene (Sae) Steffen, LasVegas, and brother-in-law, Wallace Litza, Oak Creek. She was loved by many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her cat, Ralph, who was her constant companion and watched over her faithfully.
Her husband of 63 ½ years, Ed, passed away in June of 2014. Also preceding her in death were her parents and parents-in-law; brothers, Clarence Kamke, Robert Kamke, and Melvin Kamke; sisters-in-law, Maxine Kamke, Mary Kamke, and Evelyn Kamke; Ed’s sisters, Gertrude (Clarence) Kurszewski, and Betty Litza and brother-in-law, Ernest Schwartz. They were all Erna’s family too!
The Christian funeral for Erna will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 14, 2018 at Bethlehem Ev. Lutheran Church in Hortonville. Rev. Ralph Rosenberg will be officiating. Visitation will take place on Thursday, December 13, 2018 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Borchardt Moder Funeral Home in Hortonville and again from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at church on Friday. Burial will be in Union Cemetery in Hortonville.
Erna loved her family so much. She gave the best hugs. She also said she had the best neighbors, that’s why she would never move. The family would like to thank Jim and Marcia Reinhardt, Dennis and Dawn Warns, and Geri Paschke for all their help, lawn raking, snow removal, visits and care for both Erna and Ed over the years. All the meals-on-wheels deliverers that she greeted like friends, the Affinity Visiting Nurses, and hospice providers that were so wonderful. She will be missed!