Marvin D. Steffen

Marvin Dale Steffen, the son of Henry Benjamin and Blanche Larena (Clark) Steffen, was born May 25, 1932 in Griswold, Iowa. Marvin entered eternal rest on Wednesday, November 20, 2019, at the Oskaloosa Care Center, Oskaloosa, Iowa, at the age of eighty-seven years.
Marvin graduated from the Griswold Public School with the Class of 1950. Marvin had worked at a shoe repair shop in Griswold during and beyond his school years. Marvin served his country during the Korean War by joining the United States Navy in February, 1951, and was honorably discharged on February 9, 1955.
Marvin was united in marriage to Donna Faye Pace on November 20, 1954, in Orient, Iowa. Two children: Marva and Bart were born to bless this union. Marvin received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Simpson College in 1959. He was high school teacher and coach from 1959 through 1964 at Ar-We-Va Community Schools, in Westside and Vail, Iowa. Marvin graduated from Kirksville State Teachers College with a Master of Arts degree in 1965. He was an Elementary Principal at the Corning Community Schools, Corning, Iowa, from 1965 through 1977.
Marvin would own and operate Steffen’s Stemwinder Buffet & Grill in Corning from 1978 through 1991 following his retirement from education. He was very involved in the Corning community. He was a member of the Corning Christian Church and the Corning American Legion. He served Corning on the City Council and as Corning’s Mayor for 23 years from 1980 to 2003. He was a member of the Adams County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors from 1988 to 2000. Marvin also served on many other Boards and Committees.
Marvin was proud of his family and grandkids. He always enjoyed updating his friends with their latest endeavors. Marvin was an avid jigsaw puzzle enthusiast, a lover of gooseberry pie and did not require assistance in finishing either one of them. You could admire them, but from a distance. He was a regular at the CHI Fitness Center where he would get his exercise and enjoy the daily banter with the other regulars. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Left to cherish his memory are his children: Marva (Michael) Philipsen, Ottumwa, Iowa; Bart (Tina) Steffen, Oskaloosa, Iowa; brother; Wayne Steffen, Greenfield, Iowa; sisters: Mary (Bill) Davis, Glenwood, Iowa; Henrietta Jane (Basil) Reppas, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Janet (Paul) Martinez, Arvada Colorado; five grandchildren: Melinda (Chaitanya) Kotagiri, Farmington, Missouri; Dane Philipsen (Bridget Gongol), Interlochen, Michigan; Desiree (Nyle) Claypool, Bondurant, Iowa; Alexandrea (Boris) Ndoutoume, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Payten (John) Knowles, Melrose, Iowa; three great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends
Preceding Marvin in death were his parents; wife, Donna; brothers: Clark Steffen; Paul Steffen; Boyd Steffen; sisters: Aletha Acord; Lucy Guttau.