Harold Steen Obituary
Harold enjoyed singing in choirs as well as running. In fact, he attributed living to the age of 96 to running 6 miles a day, 5 days a week for 40 years. Harold's true passion was gardening. He was a master gardener whose specialization was the daylily. In the mid-1990's, Harold started the Daylily Society of Southeast Wisconsin. The group is still going strong with over 150 members. At one time, his personal garden had over 250 different daylily species. Daylily hybridizers, Phil and Luella Korth, named one of their daylily species Hemerocallis 'Harold Steen' in 2013. It is a breathtaking plant and is still available for sale through Pinewood Gardens.
Harold is survived by his daughter Susan (Tom) Oberhauser, his 3 grandchildren, their spouses and 3 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister JoAnn (John) Wilson, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as Harold's friend Sue Pedersen. Harold was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Edna Steen, his sister Arleen Steen and his brother Dale (Phyllis) Steen.
Memorial will be Saturday February 21, 2026, 1-4 with a service at 2:30pm, all at DeFiore Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 10763 Dundee Road, Huntley, Il. 60142 For information please call 847-515-8772
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
2 Entries
Ed Kraus
January 31, 2026
1. Harold at the Daylily Sale in 2012. We worked together from the beginning of the daylily club (DSSEW) and had many great times at meetings, sales events, speaker dinners, digs, and visits to each others gardens. 2. Florence and my late dog Ferguson who loved to visit their garden. 3. A group at a dinner with a daylily speaker. Barb and the late Duane Nickel, Harold (mostly hidden), and the speaker. So many great memories. He was a great friend, mentor and fellow daylily gardener. I will see you in the heavenly gardens Harold and you better have the daylilies growing up to your high standards!
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Zannah Crowe
January 27, 2026
Harold was a mentor to me, as a gardener and as a person. I was privileged to share a friendship with him for over 30 years and spending time with him was always interesting and entertaining. He was smart and funny and energetic - and I looked to him as a shining example of aging with grace. He remained active in the community, with his activities, hobbies, and friends, right up until recently when he was unable to continue at the same pace. He gifted me with a plant of the exquisite daylily that carries his name, and I think fondly of Harold every time it blooms. Rest easy, Harold. I will miss you.
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10763 Dundee Road, Huntley, IL 60142
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