Gary F. Steffenhagen

Gary F. Steffenhagen, 80, of Dannebrog died Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at Park Place Nursing Home in Grand Island.

A time to visit with the family to tell stories and talk about memories will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Dannebrog.

Memorials are suggested to the family that will be designated for a project in Dannebrog.

Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul is in charge of arrangements.

Gary was born January 15, 1937 in Cairo to William Howard and Ann Louise (Meier) Steffenhagen.

He first lived on a farm east of Dannebrog.  He moved into Dannebrog with his family at the age of 6 years.  He attended Dannebrog schools where he graduated in 1954.

Gary entered the United States Army on August 9, 1960, serving until receiving his discharge on August 8, 1962.  He continued to be in the Army Reserves until August 8, 1966.

Gary moved back to Dannebrog after his discharge from the Army.

He was united in marriage to Deanna Swirhun on March 16, 1969 in Fairbanks, Alaska.

The couple lived in Alaska until moving to Dannebrog in 1972.

Gary worked as a mechanical millwright for various companies for the last 25 years that he worked.

Gary’s passion was trapping, hunting and all the outdoors, being happiest when he was at the river.

In 1980 Gary turned his life around, being sober for the past 37 years and he was proud to help other people by being their sponsor.

Gary was inventive, always thinking about ways he could improve trapping.

He was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Dannebrog, the Dannebrog American Legion, Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.

Survivors include his wife, Deanna Steffenhagen of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; a son, Will Steffenhagen of Indianapolis, IN; and a daughter, Stefanee Steffenhagen of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, LeAnne Thibault.