Pauline Steffens

PAULINE WILHELMINE STEFFENS Pauline Wilhelmine Steffens, age 86, of Atlantic, Iowa passed away at Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa on Sunday February 28, 2010. She was born on January 16, 1924 near Walnut, Iowa to Wilhelmine "Minnie&" Stender from Cuppy"s Grove near Avoca and Emanuel Christensen who was born in Aalborg, Denmark. Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters Lucille Fries, Erma Brown, Alnora Abbott, and brothers Fred, Edwin, Everett, Harold, Arnold, and Ivan Christensen, along with an infant sister. Also preceding her in death were nephews Ronald Weaver, Marvin Fries, Fred D., and Dean Christensen. Pauline grew up as child during the Great Depression. She would often tell stories of living with her family on their farm. One of these included walking along the sides of roads with her brothers and sisters gathering acorns to feed their ducks and chickens. The house they lived in caught fire late at night during a blizzard. Pauline"s parents along with their twelve children walked barefoot through snowdrifts to their barn, where they attempted to keep the horses from escaping, even as their home burned to the ground. Pauline"s family was temporarily split up when she and a few of her sisters were moved into a newly constructed building that had been intended to serve as a chicken-house. Pauline and her sisters turned the single room into their temporary home, decorating it with items such as draperies for the windows. Her favorite song was "Somewhere Over The Rainbow&" that she first heard while attending one of the outdoor movie showings used as a source of entertainment during Depression years. In the 1940"s Pauline was employed at the Atlantic Canning Factory. In 1947 Pauline married Wayne Steffens who had served as a soldier during World War Two in the South Pacific. They worked together on a newspaper route along country roads, as Wayne established his business, "Steffens Electric Service&". Their son Russell was born in 1954, and the family often went on trips to the Ozarks or the Badlands. Closer to home they went to parks where the family enjoyed fishing, picnics, cookouts, and camping outdoors. Often the camp-outs included gas stoves and lanterns, sleeping in tents, along with the company of our family dog, "Lassie&". Russell developed juvenile diabetes in 1963 and Pauline took her son to all his medical appointments, measured his food, boiled his glass syringes, and gave him most of his first injections. She went on to work as a caregiver at The Berry Nursing Home in the 1970"s; Pauline took care of her husband Wayne after he developed emphysema, until his death in 1980. She also took care of his mother, bringing her into her home after Wayne passed away. After Wayne"s mother died, Pauline worked as a caregiver for the next twenty years in various homes. She enjoyed visiting her son, Russell who had moved to New York City. She also spent time gardening, feeding birds, and attending outdoor music festivals with her longtime friend, Leroy Hansen. She also enjoyed visiting others over coffee, helping out family members, attending church services, and going out for long walks with her friends. Over the past dozen years, Pauline developed severe blockage in her arteries, and underwent numerous procedures to save her legs. After one attempt at bypass surgery failed, she bravely agreed to have another in May of last year, which was successful. She was able resume walking, gardening, and yard work until this past winter when the blockage returned. Pauline again bravely underwent surgery but did not recover. Her last full sentence before slipping off into a deep sleep was "I want to go home&". The next day Pauline was visited by her friends and family, including her sister, Clarine, who had been admitted to the same hospital a few days before. She spent her last full day resting with a peaceful smile on her face with her friends and family around her. Pauline"s heart stopped beating at 5:30 AM Sunday morning, as her son, Russell, stood by her side, comforting her. Pauline is survived by her son, Russell Steffens of Atlantic, a friend, Leroy Hansen of Brayton, sisters, Aleen Weaver of Atlantic, and Clarine Lundy of Fontanelle, along with 28 nieces and nephews.Funeral InformationServices are set for 10 AM, Friday, March 5, at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. There will be an open visitation daily from 8:00 to 5:30 until Thursday, March 4, when family will meet with friends from 5 to 7 PM with Roland Funeral Home of Atlantic is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be entered in Pauline's guestbook at www.rolandfuneralservice.com .IN REMEMBRANCE OFPauline SteffensBorn January 16, 1924Atlantic, IowaENTERED INTO RESTSunday, February 28, 2010At the age of 86 years, 1month and 12 daysFUNERAL SERVICEFriday, March 5, 201010:00 o"clock A.M. Zion Lutheran Church ~ Atlantic, IowaOFFICIATINGKen Davidson Zion Lutheran ChurchLITURGYPage 278 ~ 281MUSICAL SELECTIONSPrelude: Pachelbel "Canon in D&""Amazing Grace&" Page 744"How Great Thou Art&" Page 801"Jesus Loves Me&" Page 588"What A Friend We Have In Jesus&" Page 770Postlude: "Somewhere Over The Rainbow&"ORGANISTSteve PettyBEARERS LeRoy Hansen Jerry Christensen Chuck Christensen Roger Hansen Richard Weaver David MintoHONORARY BEARERS Harlow Butcher Hubert PorterFLOWER COMMITTEE Raychelle Thelen Rebekah Van MulmINTERMENT Southlawn Memorial Gardens in Atlantic, IowaLUNCHEONThe family invites guests to join them for a luncheon at the Zion Lutheran Church following services.For area church and cemetery directions, please click here:Church DirectionsCemetery Directions