The wake service for Phyllis can be viewed at the following link: https://youtu.be/zJxSZMsYucg
The Funeral Mass for Phyllis will be live-streamed at the following link: https://youtu.be/2OYi3FdCaC8
Phyllis Steffen, 89 of Carroll, passed away peacefully Monday, June 28, 2021.
A 10:00 a.m. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, July 3, 2021 at St. John Paull II Parish – St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter with the assistance of Deacon Scott Steffen and Deacon Dave Prenger. Music will be provided by Jane Heithoff and Katie Sparks. Lectors will be Terri Prenger and Rick Boes. Gift Bearers will be Trent Steffen, Raynee Sparks, and Janelle White. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Gavin Steffen, Christian Steffen, Brooke Steffen, Brittany Walker, and Ann Steffen. Casket Bearers will be Thomas Steffen, Bradley Steffen, Mark Steffen, Mitchell Sparks, Tyler White, and Eric White. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.The St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary will form an Honor Guard for the funeral mass.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, July 2 with the Rosary at 4 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 6:00 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Saturday morning where visitation will be from 9-9:45 a.m. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Phyllis’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to St. Anthony Regional Hospital Auxiliary, the Salesian Missionaries (orphanage in Bolivia that granddaughter Ann is a Missionary and trying to get computers for), or Catholic Radio.
Phyllis was born on March 4, 1932 in Halbur, Iowa, the daughter of Richard and Leona (Reiman) Drees. She grew up around Carroll County living in Roselle, Halbur, Templeton, and Carroll. She graduated from St. Angela’s Academy before working at Carroll County State Bank, St Lawrence School, St. Anthony Hospital, and New Hope Village using her financial skills in each place. Phyllis Drees married Leo Steffen on October 15, 1960 at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll and celebrated 56 years of marriage. To this union were four children: Trent, Scott, Raynee, and Janelle.
Phyllis enjoyed time spent with family by talking Leo into purchasing a fold up camper and taking two week family vacations across the United States every year seeing sights from California to Washington DC. Phyllis enjoyed fishing, bowling, dancing and golfing with Leo. Together, Phyllis and Leo enjoyed her trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Texas and Arizona after retirement. The grandkids will always remember the hours of cards, games played around the table, learning to crochet, making puzzles, reading books, and playing croquet on the lawn. Not only did Phyllis teach cake decorating, she enjoyed crocheting blankets for the hospital. She was one of the first members of the St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary, continuing to support it recently as a volunteer.
Phyllis is survived by her four children: Trent (Nancy) Steffen of North Carolina, Deacon Scott (Kathy) Steffen of Ames, Raynee (Tony) Sparks of Johnston, Janelle (Jack) White of Michigan; 14 grandchildren: Brooke, Gavin, and Christian (Claire) Steffen, Brittany (Trey) Walker; Thomas (Kelsey), Brad (Clare), Ann, Sarah, and Mark Steffen; Abbey (Kirby) Rock and Mitchell (Katie) Sparks; Tyler (Fiance Lauren), Karissa, and Eric White. She also has 11 great-grandchildren: Peter, Francis, Thomas Becket, Lucy, and Gianna Steffen; Jackson and Cecilia Rock; Andrew, Anna and Michael Sparks; and Magnolia Walker. Other survivors include her brother Lloyd (Mercedes) Drees, sister Diane (Ron) Venteicher; and brother-in-law Ken Steffen.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Richard and Leona Dress; husband Leo Steffen; father and mother-in-law, Bernard and Corsini Steffen; sister Pearl Brown; brother Richard Drees; infant sister Eileen.
