Gerald Eugene "Gene" Steffes

Gerald Eugene “Gene” Steffes, age 84, of Olpe, Kansas, died, Monday, January 24, 2011. He was born on August 29, 1926, in Olpe, Kansas, the son of William A. and Marie (Dwyer) Steffes.He was a lifelong resident of Olpe. He graduated from St. Joseph High School. He served in the U.S. Army with the 8th Calvary Regiment in the Pacific during World War II and received multiple combat medals and citations. He married Patricia J. Hamilton April 24, 1950, at Garden Plain. Gene, along with his wife, Pat, owned and operated the Olpe Food Bank and Crown S. Farms in Olpe for 50 years. He is survived by Pat after celebrating more than 60 years of marriage. He enjoyed writing his weekly newspaper article, “Gene’s Corner,” and his autobiography. He loved family, farming, playing cards, making wine and home brew. He was a dedicated lifelong member of St. Joseph Church in Olpe, the Knights of Columbus and the Olpe American Legion. He was a charter member of the Olpe Lions Club, served on the Olpe City Council and the Boards of St. Mary’s Hospital, Emporia Community Center, United Way of Lyon County and the Lyon County Red Cross. He donated more than 100 pints of blood to the Red Cross over the years. He was active in local, state and national politics. He worked for Landon in 1936; served on the Republican Precinct Committee since 1952; was Lyon County Chairman for Nixon, 1968, and Reagan, 1980, and was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in 1968. Other survivors include two daughters, Larie Nelson and her husband John, Rockport, Texas, and Gena Stremler and her husband, Dennis, Lynden, Wash.; five sons, William Steffes and his wife Lyn, Augusta, Gerald Steffes and his wife, Rena, Overland Park; Matthias Steffes, Bellingham, Wash., Dale Steffes and his wife, Tricia, Blue Springs, Mo., Charles Steffes and his wife Amanda, Olpe; two brothers, Don Steffes, McPherson, Dale Steffes and his wife Sandy, Houston, Texas; a sister, Clarice Dengel and her husband, Walt, Ottawa; and 12 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents,William A. and Marie (Dwyer) Steffes SERVICES: A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olpe at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 29, 2011. VISITATION AND ROSARY: Family will recieve friends from 6-7 Friday evening as St. Joseph Catholic Church in Olpe with the rosary being said at 7 p.m. CEMETERY: Olpe Cemetery in Olpe, Kansas, with Military Honors by American Legion Post #342. MEMORIALS: The family suggests memorial contributions to St. Joseph CCD Religious Education or Hand In Hand Hospice , c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary 235 S. Hickory in Ottawa, Ks 66067. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through dengelmortuary@sbcglobal.net. FLOWERS: The family has ordered flowers through Riverside Flowers in Emporia, Kansas and requestes that you order from there as well (620) 342-5457.