Obituaries

Ralph Steffen, 88, died peacefully on March 8, 2023 in St. Charles, Illinois.  The son of Joseph and Mathilda Steffen, Ralph was born on January 30, 1935, in Dunkerton, Iowa.  After graduating from Loras High School he attended Loras College where he received his BA in Economics in 1959.  He served his country by enlisting in the US Army and was honorably discharged in 1965.

Ralph moved to Chicago where he met Lillian Petitte and they married in 1966.  They settled in Park Ridge, Illinois. He started his own company on the Midwest Stock Exchange and raised his family.  Although he loved his life in Illinois, he also loved being an Iowa farm boy and returned to Dunkerton to see his family as often as he could.  He told many stories of being the youngest of 10, 7 brothers and 2 sisters, and was very proud of his siblings and his many nieces and nephews.

Ralph was kind, hard-working, and humble.  He wanted to help everyone he met.  He loved being outside and introduced his family to nature, his love of dogs, and growing things.  Throughout the years he relaxed by sailing, golfing, walking, playing volleyball, and cards.  Ralph loved his classmates from Loras College, his neighbors in Park Ridge and Hoffman Estates, and loved any social event that he could attend when he was with his friends.  Ralph loved a good Manhattan before dinner and was always quick to share how lucky he was, how good he felt, and that he had so many people in his life to love.

Ralph is survived by his daughters Amy (Clint) Hull of St. Charles, Jane Fullett of Atlantic Beach, Florida, and his son Jeff of Greensboro, North Carolina, four grandchildren, T.C., Brent, Christina, and Luke, and his partner of ten years, Gerda McHugh.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Lillian.

A visitation and funeral honoring and celebrating Ralph will be held on Monday, March 13, 2023, at St. John Neumann’s Church.  The visitation will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. with the mass immediately following the visitation.

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