Dawn Steffens

Dawn M. Steffens was called to her eternal home on Sunday, February 2, 2025. Dawn was the second born to the late Celest "Sonny" and Verna Mae Parins, on February 15, 1950. Dawn graduated from Bay Port High School in 1968, and later from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). While working as an LPN at St. Mary's Hospital in Green Bay and making her hospital rounds, she heard the racket of drums being played on the end of a hospital bed and when she walked into her patient's room, she unknowingly met her husband of 52 years, Gerald "Jerry" Steffens.

Dawn and Jerry wed on a warm and sun filled fall day on October 7, 1972. Dawn spent her entire life milking cows alongside Jerry, on their rural Seymour dairy farm, where they raised four children. Dawn gave her heart and soul selflessly to her family. Dawn loved to read and write with a special knack for poetry. She often helped her children author their last-minute, late-night essays and book reports for the following day's school assignments. She loved spending countless hours at the Black Creek Library and passed her love of reading to her grandchildren right up until the end.

Dawn was always smiling and loved people. She often sat at the kitchen table, talking on the telephone, checking in on how everyone's day was. Her remarkable memory for names, numbers, and specific details were often called upon by friends and family. Summertime was Dawn's favorite time of the year. She spent countless hours enjoying the late setting sun while seated on her favorite cedar swing chatting with the evening's visitors.

Dawn was blessed with nine grandchildren whom she adored and cherished. She was proud of each and everyone of them and all their accomplishments. Dawn was the perfect blend of strength and independence, sprinkled in with a Hail Mary or two. Her witty comebacks and prayers to St. Anthony will be missed dearly.

Dawn is survived by her husband, Jerry Steffens; sons: John Steffens and Dave (Rachel) Steffens; daughters: Tracy (Zak) Holschbach and Shari (Harley) Griesbach; grandchildren: Cole, Bailey, Sean, Mikaela, Maci, Logan, Ella, Lincoln and Maverick; sister in-law, Suzann Parins; brother, Corky Parins; and sisters: Susie Parins, Patti (Jeff) Katzban, Tina Parins (Jeff Sittarich); sister in-laws: Lorraine Steffens and Maria Sofa; brothers-in-law: Rich (Linda) Steffens, Norbert (Ruth) Steffens, and Norman Steffens; along with several cherished nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Dawn was preceded in death by her parents, Celest "Sonny" and Verna Mae Parins; father-in-law and mother in-law: Paul and Loretta Steffens: brother, Dan Parins; sister, Lori Parins; sisters-in-law: Irene Steffens, Shirley Anderson, Donna Bauman, and Mary Steffens; brother-in-law, Joseph Steffens; and lifelong best friend, Diane Kaster.

Visitation will take place at Muehl-Boettcher Funeral Home, Seymour on Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue at St. John Catholic Church, Seymour on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 9:30 am until the funeral mass at 11:00 am with Fr. Bob Kabat and Deacon Rich Matuszak officiating. Burial will take place at St. John Catholic Cemetery, Seymour.

Online condolences may be expressed to Dawn's family at www.muehlboettcher.com

A special thank you to staff at Good Shepard Skilled Nursing and Shepard's Inn Assisted Living Facility for their generous care of Dawn. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Black Creek Library in Dawn's honor.