George W. Steffen

George W. Steffen, age 95, of Omaha, Nebraska and formerly of Fordyce, Nebraska, died on Thursday, August 8, 2024 at Pacific Springs Village in Omaha.

Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 on Monday, August 12, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Constance, NE with his grandson, Rev. Scott Nemec officiating. The funeral service will be livestreamed at www.facebook.com/WintzRay/live. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery in Constance. Visitation is from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with a rosary and vigil service at 7:00 PM. Visitation continues one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington, NE.

Pallbearers are Jeff Friedenbach, John Friedenbach, Ryan Nemec, Digger Hansen, Tyler Damme and Troy Paradis.

George W. Steffen was born on April 8, 1929 to Dora (Asbre) and Joseph Steffen in Fordyce NE. He was the middle child of nine, six sisters and two brothers. He attended St. Joseph Elementary School in Constance through the eighth grade. He was busy farming the day high school started so he never attended. He and his brother Dan were active in 4H showing Registered Herford cattle. He married Shirley Kuehn on October 6, 1953. They lived their life on the Asbre homestead. There, along with crops and livestock, they raised three daughters and two sons.

George was an avid reader. He was reading constantly. He had one of the first computers and kept his records on a computer well into his 80s. Though never learning to swim, he learned to waterski in his late 40s. He was a charter member of the Lakeview Golf Course and enjoyed golfing with Shirley and many golf buddies. 

George farmed until he was 86. He sang all day every day while he farmed. He quit to take care of Shirley who had Alzheimer’s. In 2016, they moved to assisted living in Elkhorn, NE to be near their children. There he took up painting folk art. He received a guitar at 94 and spent many hours strumming and singing.

He is survived by his brother, Jim (Janice) Steffen; his children: Cindy (Mark) Filip, Doug (Kathy Nohr) Steffen, Dr. David (Trish) Steffen, Heidi (Rod) Friedenbach, and Beth (Mark) Nemec; grandchildren: Abby Michalski, Dr. Jennifer Hansen, Melisa Paradis, Dr. Katherine Damme, John Friedenbach, Fr. Scott Nemec, Ryan Nemec, Jeff Friedenbach, and Julia Nemec; and 8 1/2 great grandchildren. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shirley on October 18, 2020; his brother, Daniel Steffen; his sisters: Maggie Borte, Delores Broders, Helen Volquardsen, Theresa Sorenson, Rosie Dreesen and Margie Pitman.