Rev. Norman Steffen
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A memorial service for Rev. Norman L Steffen, 82, Lawrence, KS, will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 17, 2010, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lawrence, Kansas. Private burial will precede the memorial service at the Stoney Point Cemetery in southern Douglas County.
Norman was born on August 29, 1928, in Omaha, NE, the 3rd son of Otto & Hulda Jetter Steffen. He died peacefully, surrounded by family members on Friday, September 10, 2010.
As a young man, Norman attended First Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and was an all-star catcher and running back at Omaha (NE) Tech High where he was voted most likely to succeed. He began his college education on a Rector Scholarship at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. There he met the love of his life and eventual wife Kathryn Pierce.
After one year at DePauw in Delta Chi fraternity, he decided that, for him, questions of faith and meaning had more importance than chemical engineering. He transferred to St. John’s Lutheran College in Winfield, Kansas, to begin pre-seminary training. He graduated in 1949 and continued his studies at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Kay and Norm married on December 22, 1951, in her hometown of Minneapolis. After completing his vicarage in Bismarck, North Dakota, he graduated from the seminary in 1955.
Rev. Steffen’s career in campus ministry touched five decades beginning in 1954 in Davis, California, where he pastored a mission congregation, Davis Lutheran Church, and did campus ministry work. In 1965 he answered a call to Lawrence to a campus congregation, first known as University Lutheran Church, which later merged with Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 1977, he answered a call to serve a town-gown congregation in DeKalb, IL for another 13 years before retiring to Lawrence in 1990. In retirement, he continued interim ministry, including six months as a “snowbird minister” in McAllen, TX. He and Kay were active in senior and campus ministry and served as a host family to several foreign students at KU.
From 1965 until 1974, Rev. Steffen met the challenge of serving on the Human Relations Commission of the City of Lawrence at a difficult time in the city’s history. Both as a member and as chairman, he worked to ease racial tensions by promoting dialog and understanding. His efforts advanced equal access to facilities and resources and promoted fair housing/employment ordinances. His family believes this is one of his most significant contributions and witnesses of his faith.
He was a member of the Ministerial Association, the Lawrence Tennis Association, and played in the slow pitch softball church league. He loved dancing with Kay and attending musical, athletic and other performances. He was intimately involved with his family and officiated at its weddings and baptisms. He took great joy and pride in observing the growth and achievements of all its members.
Survivors include his beloved wife Kay; four daughters, Nancy and Fred Anderson, of Las Cruces, NM; Carolyn Steffen and Julie Burik, of Shawnee, KS; Suzanne Steffen and Bob Hyland, of Kansas City, MO; Janice Steffen and Jan Madlock, of Bonner Springs, KS; a son, David Steffen and Jill Kerr, of Carrboro, NC; a sister, Marilyn Seitz, of CA, thirteen grandchildren (Avery and Stephanie Demby, Jaimee and Earnest Harris, Jessie Steffen, Emerald Anderson, Ivy Anderson, Georgia Steffen, Zoemma Steffen, Louisa Steffen, Natalie Hyland, Liam Hyland, Mercedes Steffen Madlock, Hailie Steffen Madlock, Keani Steffen Madlock), and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Arnold and Paul, and a granddaughter, Leilah Steffen.
The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, September 16, 2010, at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
The family suggests memorials in his name to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lawrence, the Alzheimer’s Association, or a hospice of your choice. These may be sent in care of the mortuary.
I will always remember REV. Steffen as very loving and man.
I’m so glad to have known Norm. He was so gracious and kind. He was so knowledgeable. I wish I could have heard him preach. Yet I think the way he conducted himself may have been the way he exemplified God. His kids are caring and compassionate which tells us what kind of parent Norm was. We will miss him.
Dear Carolyn,
We are so sorry to hear of your father’s passing. He sounds like quite a man who lived a life of meaning and purpose, filled with love. He obviously passed those qualities onto his children! Please know that we are holding you in our prayers and surrounding you with our love.
Dear Family:
Now he is with the Lord… and his two older brothers, mother, father, niece, (Debbie)… and “with the angels, archangels and all the company of heaven…”
Praise God! Come, Lord Jesus!
Betty and Family
We send our heartfelt condolences to Norman Steffen’s family. Rev. Steffen was a devoted pastor and family man.
His words and actions were important in the history of civil rights in Lawrence, Kansas. He stood up against injustice, and worked with the community to help it move beyond old habits and solve engrained problems through a focus on loving God and each other. His leadership and work made the world a better place.
We’re so grateful to have known him personally, and witnessed his constant love and leadership within his family. We will treasure the memory of him performing our wedding and the baptism of our son. We will truly miss him.
I knew him as “Carolyn’s Dad,” and always found him to be kind and thoughtful. I am thinking of you all and praying for you as you grieve this lovely man.
Uncle Norm was a wonderful example of what God wishes we all could be here on Earth. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor, his good listening skills, his understanding and teaching skills. We all shall miss him.
My deepest sympathy goes out to the entire Steffen family, especially to David, my dear friend from many years ago at Lawrence High School. I have such fond memories of our times together, and of the warmth and love your father shared. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
My deepest sympathy goes out to the entire Steffen family, especially to David, my dear friend from many years ago at Lawrence High School. I have such fond memories of our times together, and of the warmth and love your father shared. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Carolyn,
I was so sorry to learn of the death of your father. Please know you’ve been on my mind and I’m praying for you! With all of my love during this sad time… Mary
Carolyn ,Julie and family,
Wanted to let you know I am thinking of you all at this difficult time.Cherish the memories.Love Dee
My very deep condolences on the loss of your father. I remember Pastor/Mr. Steffen as a very kind man, very loving of his family and a guy who absolutely loved and celebrated music and laughter. You all will be in my thoughts.
Dear Steffen Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. We all feel honored to have known Pastor Norm. He made us laugh and smile. Know that he is at peace now with our Lord. We will all miss him deeply. Gail, Lindsey and all the caregivers.
So sorry to hear of your loss, yet rejoicing with you in knowing that he is in heaven! Wish we could be with you at the memorial service, but one of our daughters is having surgery that day and we must be here. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. A special memory for me of your dad is that he and your mom attended each of our daughters weddings and participated in the ceremonies. He was so kind and always giving of himself to all. A true man of God!
With Love, Sally
To the Steffen Family,
What a legacy Rev. Steffen has left. His shared his calm, soft spoken brilliance with so many people on so many levels. How blessed I am to have known him and how blessed I am to know you. God’s continued blessings during your time of breavement. Love you, mean it. Keep lookin’ up!