Elmer H. Steffes

Elmer H. Steffes, 82, of Mount Calvary, died Friday afternoon, January 9, 2026, at Hospice Home of Hope in Fond du Lac.
He was born on March 6, 1943, in his family home in Mount Calvary to the late Ben and Virginia (Engel) Steffes.
Elmer graduated from New Holstein High School in 1961.
On Feb. 20, 1963, he married the love of his life, Elizabeth (Betty) Johnson at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Fond du Lac.
A life-long dairy farmer, Elmer raised eight children with his beloved wife Betty and instilled in them the value of hard work. He had a passion for woodworking and ran the family sawmill for many years. The Holyland is sprinkled with his child sized rocking chairs and other furniture creations - he may still try to sell you one at the visitation. Elmer will forever be remembered for his quick humor, his rough but loving personality and his mischievous grin.
Elmer enjoyed fishing, woodworking, deer hunting (somehow, he managed to get a deer every single year) and being a grandpa to 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Survivors include his eight children Dan (Jill) Steffes of Mount Calvary, Kathy (Jeff) Loppnow of Florida, Karen Faris of Fond du Lac, Kris (Kevin) Schneider of Malone, Kim (Tom) Donohue of Monroe, Amy (Aharon) Laufer of Virginia, Gary (Diane) Steffes of Nevada, and Thomas (Laura) Steffes of Virginia; 22 grandchildren, Ryan, Alex, and Eric Steffes, Jordan, Josh, Jacob Loppnow, and Jade Luchs, Kayla, Matthew, Shelly, Johnny, Paulie, and Kateri Faris, Brad, Eric, and Kelsey Schneider, Laura Bergum and Maggie Donohue, Hannah, Adam, and Henry Laufer, and Nicolas Steffes; 15 great-grand-children; five sisters; Lorraine Karls of Charlesburg, Marie (Jim) Ausloos of Mosinee, Ceil (Joe) Schaefer of Malone, Annie (John) Schmitz of Fond du Lac, Judy (Dr. Joseph) Reising of Minnesota and Dr. Jeanne (Dory) Hart-Steffes of New York.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Betty; his parents Ben and Virginia Steffes; his mother and father in-law Marguerite and Clifford Johnson; his brothers in-law, James Johnson, James Haase and Gerald Karls; and his sisters in-law Janice Johnson and Diane Haase.
Services: The visitation will take place from 9 am to 11:30 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 Noon on Friday, January 16, 2026, at Our Lady of the Holyland Parish-Holy Cross Site, 308 S. County Trunk W, in Mount Calvary. The Rev. Paul Koenig, OFM Cap will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation: Family and friends may call at Our Lady of the Holyland Parish-Holy Cross Site on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. For additional information, please contact the Sippel Funeral Home in St. Cloud (920) 999-2291 or visit www.sippelfuneralhome.net.
Donations can be directed to the family for Hospice Home of Hope.