Phyllis Steadman

Phyllis Ann (Baker) Steadman, 95, of Corning, Iowa, died on December 7, 2023, at Montgomery County Memorial Hospital, in Red Oak, Iowa.  Funeral Services will be 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, Corning, Iowa, with Rev. Lauri Greenlee officiating.  Burial will be in Prairie Rose Cemetery, rural Corning, Iowa, near her home. Open visitation will be 3:00 – 7:00 P.M., Monday, December 11, 2023 at the funeral home (family not present).  Family receiving friends 9:30 – 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at the funeral home, prior to the service. Memorials may be directed to the Prairie Rose Cemetery and/or the Red Star Mills’ “People In Need”.  Memories and condolences may be shared on-line at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Phyllis Ann Steadman was born on September 26, 1928 to Garnett Cornell and Bertha Ula (Crouse) Baker in Adams County, Iowa.  She attended grade school at Mt. Zion Carl #7 Country School.  She graduated from Prescott High School in 1946.  She met her lifelong best friend Daisey (Blazek) Brown in high school.  She met her husband Byron Steadman on a blind date with Bob Brown and Daisy Blazek.  Byron and Phyllis were married February 9, 1947 and were married for 51 years.  Byron and Phyllis farmed in Adams County for over 50 years.  Their first home was west of Brooks where they raised five children, while milking cows, growing a garden, canning, and harvesting.  They did all of this without running water.  They later moved to Orville and Kitty Steadman’s farm, where Kathlyn was born in 1961.  In 1973, Kim and Cary Crill came to live with Phyllis and Byron for a year while their father recovered from a painting accident.  In 1997, Byron and Phyllis built a new house that mom lived in and enjoyed until her accident in July 2023. 

Phyllis was a faithful member of the Brooks Methodist Church and the UMW group that prepared countless funeral lunches, church suppers and summer vacation bible school.  She attended all the school events for six kids and always found time to help grandpa and grandma Baker.  Her lifelong job was being a mother and homemaker.  Phyllis was thrifty and would get the use out of all her clothes, especially the brown wool coat.   Phyllis enjoyed traveling and beginning in 1998 traveled to Europe, Alaska, Canada and Mexico with her daughters.  She also enjoyed may day trips with them, as well.  Phyllis loved dancing and attended many dances with Byron at the Chicken Inn, Bernings and Williamson legion Hall.  She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Left to mourn Phyllis’ passing are her children:  Carol (husband Doug) Olive of Corning, Iowa; Barbara (husband John) Cosaert of Verona, Wisconsin; son-in-law, Mike Keever of Lincoln, Nebraska; seven grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; many friends and neighbors.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Byron in 1998; her children:  Linda Jordan, Janet Mercer, Bryan Steadman and Kathlyn Keever; sons-in-law, Doug Mercer and Kenneth Jordan.