Marvin Henry Steffen

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN 56003
507-388-2288

Marvin “Jack” H. Steffen, age 92 of Mankato, died Sunday, May 28, 2017.

Service 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 3, 2017, Northview~North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato, MN. Visitation one hour before the service on Saturday. Burial Calvary Cemetery, Mankato.

Jack’s Life Story

Marvin “Jack” Henry Steffen, age 92, died on Sunday May 28, 2017, surrounded by his children. Jack was born on March 10, 1925 in Climbing Hill, IA to Henry and Sophia Steffen. Jack was the 3rd born of seven brothers and sisters. Jack comes of pioneering stock, with his mother, Sophia, being born on a Wyoming homestead ranch, and Jack’s grandpa being a cowboy and homesteader. Jack’s dad, Henry, emigrated from Germany in 1913 as a farmer. At 4 years old, the Steffen family moved to Dunnell, MN, where they farmed 160 acres, still using horses for some of the farming operations. Jack, along with his brothers and sisters, attended a one room country school house one and a half miles from home. The kids typically went to school using their wagon and pony. Through Jack’s upbringing on the farm with a large family, he developed a strong work ethic along with a commitment to loyalty and value. As a youth, Jack was confirmed in the Christian faith through the Lutheran Church that his family attended in Dunnell. At 15 years old, Jack was hiring out picking corn by hand and making hay. The 2nd World War started as Jack was a teenager and in 1943, at 18 years old, he joined the US Navy. Jack received his basic training in Virginia, then on to California for training to join the 4th Naval Construction Battalion (SEABEES). The motto of the SEABEES was “WE BUILD, WE FIGHT, CAN DO”. In December of 1943 the Battalion was shipped to Oahu, HI where they built hospital units and housing for Marines and other Navy Personnel. The next deployment was to the Pacific Theater, and in particular, the liberation and development of Guam. The SEABEES and the Marines worked hand in hand. As South Pacific Islands were taken by the marines, the SEABEES were immediately tasked with building airfields and infrastructure. While in the Pacific, Jack contracted yellow jaundice and rheumatic fever, whereby he was moved back to Pearl Harbor for a two week hospital stay. The rheumatic fever ended Jack’s involvement in WWII, though by this time the war was coming to a close in the Pacific. Jack was sent to a hospital in Idaho where he stayed for several months, before being discharged from the Navy in September 1945. Having been in the Navy, Jack was not ready to settle down, and took off for California with a couple friends where they worked in an orange factory. Factory work was not for Jack and he returned to Minnesota where he began a career in road construction and farming. On March 10th 1948 Jack married Ruby Simon, they had 4 children together, Pam, Jeanette, Bruce and Kathy. In 1959, Jack bought his own farm near Jackson MN. He always loved the ranching side of farming, and started a herd of Herford stock cows, importing cows from Montana. Jack and Ruby later divorced. On May 25th 1979 he married Veronica Roessler. He moved off the farm and relocated to Mankato, MN. Jack continued to work road construction and retired in 1995. In retirement, he enjoyed his grandkids, traveling with Veronica and mostly taking it easy. Jack was an avid Twins fan and rarely missed a game on TV. Humor came easily to him and he usually had a light hearted take on most situations.

We will miss him and his sense of humor very much.