Harold Steffens

Harold H. J. Steffens SLATON- Family and friends will gather Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. in Englunds Chapel for a rosary. On Monday, September 24, 2012 at 10 a.m. family and friends will gather for a celebration of life service St. Joseph's Catholic Church to remember a great man. Burial will follow in Englewood Cemetery under the direction of Englunds Funeral Service of Slaton. Harold Joseph Steffens, 76, was born on the family farm on March 25, 1936 to John August and Ida Elizabeth Schilling Steffens. He was a life long resident of Slaton. Harold was in the army between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He worked for Santa Fe Railroad for 35 years, retiring in 1993. He was a brakeman/conductor and a member of the UTU. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus. Harold was also a recovering alcoholic for 45 years. His example and experience helped many others to find and maintain sobriety. Harold attended seminary for three years and after departing and praying that Jesus help him to find a mate, he attended a dance in Nazareth and saw a girl in a blue dress. He immediately fell head over heels in love and married Arlene Leinen on February 16, 1960. They had four children and raised their family next door to the home where he was born. Harold was surrounded by his family when he passed from this life at home on the family farm on September 21, 2012, to begin his eternal life. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Alphonse, Ralph, Leonard, and Marvin; and sister, Frances Melcher. His survivors include his wife, Arlene; sons, Cliff and Neal both of Slaton, and Tim and wife, Yeyette of Springfield, Colo.; daughter, Karol Albus and husband David of Whitharral; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sisters, Loretta Kitten of Slaton and Carolyn Alspaugh and husband, Don of Uvalde. Harold considered himself a wealthy man because of the friends he knew, the family he raised and those he helped and who helped him through AA. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Kidney Foundation, the American Heart Association or a personal favorite charity.