Grace Mary Elizabeth Steele

Grace Mary Elizabeth Steele was born November 20, 1911, at Andrew, Iowa. She was the daughter of Rev. William Arthur and Flora Bell (Gotshall) Menneke. When Grace was a child, she moved often with her family, due to her father's ministry. After her marriage in 1933, she moved with her husband to Garden City, Kansas. In 1944, they moved to the Steele family farm in northwest Franklin County, Kansas. In 1989, they moved to Ottawa, Kansas, where she made her home, until her death Sunday, November 2, 2003, at the age of ninety-one. She graduated from Ottawa High School with the class of 1929. Grace was a lifelong homemaker. She was a member of Ottawa Church of the Nazarene, Appanoose Baptist Church and the church women's group, as well as Beacon Light Extension Homemakers Unit. Mrs. Steele was an active member of her church, who enjoyed all the church functions and visiting with her many friends. She was an excellent cook. When her children were in 4-H, she was active as a leader in cooking. She was also an expert seamstress and, in her spare time, enjoyed collecting antiques. On June 15, 1933, Grace was united in marriage with Robert Wayne Steele, Sr., at Lawrence, Kansas. He preceded her in death February 26, 1993. She is also preceded in death by her parents; son, Harlan Steele; three sisters, Ruth Frisbee, Esther Farnsworth, Ethyl Briggs; brother, Arthur 'Bud' Menneke; grandson, Dennis Steele; and great-grandson, Eric Finch. She is survived by two sons, Robert Steele, Jr., and his wife, Geraldine, of Pomona, Kansas, Richard Steele and his wife, Ethel, of Ottawa; daughter, Delores Smith and her husband, Jay, of Casper, Wyoming; sister, Florence Richards and her husband, John, of Burlington, Iowa; ten grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren. SERVICES: Funeral services will be held from Ottawa Church of the Nazarene, 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 7, 2003. OFFICIATING CLERGY: Pastor Steven Iwersen. IN STATE: Mrs. Steele will lie in state after 9:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Dengel & Son Mortuary until the service hour, where the family will meet with friends 7 to 8:00 Thursday evening. CEMETERY: Dean Cemetery, Franklin County, Kansas. MEMORIALS: Memorial contributions may be made to Ottawa Church of the Nazarene, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, KS 66067