David George Steffenhagen

David George Steffenhagen peacefully passed away on January 19, 2025, at the age of 94. Born on November 27, 1930, in Chicago, Illinois, to parents William A. and Barbara T. (Sevening) Steffenhagen.
For an amazing 72 years, David was married to the love of his life, Leona M. (Anderson) Steffenhagen. Together, they fostered a warm and nurturing home, raising their children, who carry forward the values of compassion, hard work, and resilience that David instilled in them. His legacy is one of love and support, a testament to the strong bonds of family and friendship he built throughout his life.
David dedicated 33 years to Illinois Bell Telephone before enjoying a well-deserved retirement. During which he spent countless hours in his garage, whether it was repairing cars and tractors or fixing household appliances, there was nothing he couldn't fix. His curiosity and passion for learning were evident in his love for reading, especially John Grisham novels, murder mysteries, westerns, and war stories. David shared his passion of genealogy with his family, tracking down family roots and reciting stories from his past; his family cherishes his efforts. David especially missed his four older brothers, his ma and pa often telling stories of them, making his family smile and laugh. He is surely reliving his days with them in Heaven. Sundays were a cherished tradition for David, often spent with his beloved family, indulging in White Castle sliders and Rainbow Cones.
David loved his family and took pride in their accomplishments. As a grandfather, he was sure to buy a baseball cap of the high schools and colleges his 9 grandchildren attended and wore it proudly at events; even today, the hats are neatly lined on his pristine garage walls. He was known for having his camera around his neck capturing the many sporting events, graduations, and weddings of his grandchildren. He loved talking on the phone to hear what his grandchildren were up to and asking about the weather in whatever part of the country they were in. He spoiled his great-grandchildren by gifting them a model car or airplane from his private collection.
David is survived by his wife: Leona M. (Anderson) Steffenhagen; his children: Laura (Mike) Hartwig, David (Mellode) Steffenhagen and Jefferey (Susan) Steffenhagen; his grandchildren: Eric (Kayla), Chris (Shannon), David (Lynille), Emily (Josh), Kaitlin (Richard), Amanda (Lewis), Nadine (Josh), Mary, and Aimee (Alex); and 15 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents: William A. and Barbara T. (Sevening) Steffenhagen; his brothers: William, Eldrige, Robert and Clarence; his nieces and nephews: Barbara, Mary, Bill, Ken, Terry, Bob and Johnny. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David, please visit our floral store.