Stephen John Maassen

Stephen "Steve" John Maassen
Godfrey - Stephen ("Steve") John Maassen, 72, of Godfrey, IL and Venice, FL, passed away on February 27, 2024, after a courageous battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
Steve was born on May 2, 1951 to Harriet Bernice (Muyskens) Maassen and John Howard Maassen in Clifton Springs, NY. A "Preacher's kid" in the Dutch Reformed Church of America (RCA), he spent his childhood moving between parishes in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. After graduating from Lincoln High School (Des Moines, IA), he obtained a B.A. from Central College in Pella, IA in 1973 and a J.D. from Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, IN) in 1977, where he was managing editor of the Law Review.
A clerkship brought him to downstate Illinois, where he spent the next 40 years with his law firm (recently incorporated into Rynearson, Suess, Schnurbusch & Champion, LLC). He briefed and argued more than 100 cases before both State Supreme Courts and Federal Courts of Appeal, and was admitted to practice in IL, MO and IN. Steve was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the International Association of Defense Counsel, as well as numerous other Bar Associations in IL and MO. He also took on countless pro bono cases.
Steve met his wife, Diana, at an office Christmas party in 1981 at Alton's Stratford Hotel (though he only got up the nerve to ask her on a date at the next Christmas party in 1982). 2024 marks forty years of loving marriage. He is survived by Diana Kaye (Duncan) Maassen, as well as his children, Alison Nicole Maassen (Roman Garcia) of Madrid, Spain and Jonathan Clark Maassen, of Venice, FL. Other survivors include his grandchildren, Paulo Maassen Garcia and Kate Maassen Garcia, of Madrid, Spain, as well as his four sisters: Elizabeth Piel of Venice, FL, Mary Kohlmiller of Gilroy, CA, Susan Toren of Shawnee, KS, and Janet Menzie of Katy, TX.
Steve was active in charitable organizations involving early childhood and people with disabilities, including terms as President of Illinois Easter Seal Society, and President of the Board of Directors of Alton Day Care and Learning Center. He was former clerk of session of his Presbyterian Church, and in his spare time enjoyed golf, travel, and watching professional sports. He was a passionate history buff, particularly interested in the Civil War, and loved to recount stories of local history. He spared no effort to help his children live their dreams and delighted in his family. He will be fondly remembered for his boundless generosity, sage advice, and kind spirit.
Memorial services are pending. Inurnment will be in Godfrey, Illinois. Shannon Funeral Home, of Bradenton, FL, handled the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CurePSP, psp.org, specifically to the Steve Maassen Tribute Fund: https://info.curepsp.org/tribute-funds?page=2.