My sincerest sympathies to Aggie and the boys. Lots of fond memories of helping Don coach the boys and my brothers baseball team on the old field where the fire station is today. He was a great friend and will be missed by us all.
Donald W. Steichen
September 30, 1934 – August 11, 2021
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. on Monday, August 16, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waite Park for Donald W. Steichen, age 86, of Waite Park. Reverend Timothy Gapinski will officiate. Don passed away peacefully at home on August 11, 2021. Burial of the urn will take place in the St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery in Waite Park.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, August 15 at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud. Parish Prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.
Don was born September 30, 1934 in Austin, MN to Alfred and Angeline (Bottema) Steichen. He lived in Adams until he was five and then moved with his family to Marty (Pearl Lake) on a family farm. He attended elementary at Holy Cross, graduated from the Crosier High School and then St. John’s University in 1957. He served in the Army National Guard for 6 years and was honorably discharged in 1963. He married Agnes Bechtold on September 3, 1960 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Joseph. He worked at Cold Spring Granite, then at Electrolux for 30 years as an Accountant. He retired from the Stearns County Corrections Office in 1988 after 11 years.
Don was an active member of St. Joseph’s Parish in Waite Park where he served on the School Board, Parish Council, Parish Bazaar, coaching sports and as an usher. He was a Waite Park City Councilman for 24 years. He was also a longtime member of Moose Lodge 1400, Eagles Aerie 622 and Knights of Columbus Council 5548.
Don loved gardening, biking, golfing, playing cards, Keno, crossword puzzles and coin collecting. He never missed a parent-teacher conference for his sons from preschool through high school.
Don is survived by his wife Aggie, sons Jeff (Rosanne) of Sartell, Mike (Ginnie) of Baxter, and Kevin of St. Cloud, daughter-in-law Marianne Steichen, grandchildren Travis (Laura), Tyler, Samantha, Michaela, Victoria, Ellie (Nathan) and Sami, sister Mary Ann Eull of St. Michael and sister-in-law Kathleen Steichen of Marty.
Preceding Don in death were his parents, son Gary, brothers Daniel and John, sisters Agnes Notch, Kathryn Schueller, infant sisters Angeline and Marlys, brothers-in-law Larry Schueller, Roger Notch, George Molus, and sister-in-law Darlene Bechtold.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of flowers.
A special thank you to CentraCare Dialysis and Hospice, Cashwise Pharmacy, and to Dr Angeline Ausban and the Internal Medicine Staff.
Guestbook
My condolences to Don’s family. He was a good man in addition to being a hard worker.
I worked with Don for many years at the Stearns co Jail. My fondest memory of Don was a crazy night in Oct. I believe it was 1988 when the St. Cloud State riots were occuring. Don was doing arrestee transports from the scene of the riots and I was doing intakes at the jail. Don would bring 5-6 arrestees from the scene to the jail and I would process them and he would go back out to the scene and bring in another group of arrestees. My understanding is he got caught at one point by the rioters and they were rocking and caused some damage to the vehicle and Don just slowly drove the rioters no one got hurt. I have many fond memories of Don and our work together. Don will be missed. Rest in Peace Brother.
My condolences to Don’s family. I worked with Don during his years with Stearns County. He was a nice guy, thoughtful and compassionate. Truly a loss.
My wife Marlene and our Family extend our deepest sympathy to the Steichen Family. Don was a very good man and I was proud to know him for many years. Most recently, I would see him as we drove by his home for the City of Waite Park Clean ups in the Spring and Fall. I was blessed to know him! God bless his memory!
Services
Visitation
Daniel Funeral Home, St. CloudSchedule Details
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. on Monday, August 16, 2021 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waite Park for Donald W. Steichen, age 86, of Waite Park. Reverend Timothy Gapinski will officiate. Don passed away peacefully at home on August 11, 2021. Burial of the urn will take place in the St. Joseph’s Parish Cemetery in Waite Park.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, August 15 at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Cloud. Parish Prayers will be held at 4 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.