Lyle Stegen

Lyle Stegen, age 80, of Decorah died Thursday, March 13, 2014 at the Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral Service was held Thursday, March 20 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church, Decorah, with Rev. Kathy Wicks officiating. Interment was in Iowa River Cemetery, Decorah with graveside Military Rites by the Decorah Veterans Group.
Lyle Merlin Stegen was born March 7, 1934, the son of Arnold and Mabel (Evanson) Stegen on the family farm near Decorah. Lyle attended rural country schools and took over the family farm at the age of 14. Lyle helped to raise his own siblings, as well as his own children and then his grandchildren. Lyle served in the U.S. Navy from 1956-58.
He was united in marriage to Helen Forde September 13, 1959 in Postville. In 1964, they purchased the family farm and Lyle farmed for there for 50 years. Lyle was a good caretaker of the land and loved his land. He often left the land better than it was when he started farming it, by using good soil conservation practices.
Lyle also had a good heart, by helping out neighbors and friends when they were in need. He was a man of the land, enjoyed horses and riding them. Lyle loved his children, and above all his grandchildren. In later years, Lyle enjoyed collecting wood furniture and antiques. He was a member of the Big Canoe Lutheran Church.
Lyle is survived by his wife, Helen Stegen of Decorah; two sons, Lee (Jenny) Stegen of Waukon and Lloyd (special friend Amanda Winters) Stegen of Dorchester; eight grandchildren, Joseph Stegen, Daniel Hanson, Jeremiah Stegen, Christopher Stegen, Connor Stegen, Grace Stegen, Dylan Stegen and Vaughn Stegen; one great-granddaughter, Annabel Stegen; three sisters, LaVonne Bussey of Sacramento, CA, Dorothy (Dave) Christen of Wadena and Arla Schmitt of Independence; one brother, Arlan (Lois) Stegen of Cedar Rapids; one sister-in-law, Marlene (Denis) Welch of Waukon; and one brother-in-law, Dr. James “Jim” (Jerilyn) Forde of Moorhead, MN.
Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Mabel (Evanson) Stegen; one daughter, Lila Stegen, in 1997; one granddaughter, Sena Hanson, in 2009; two brothers, Kenneth, in 1939, and Ron, in 1998; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lloyd and Harriet Forde; and two brothers-in-law, Jim Kingsley and Jack Bussey.
Honorary casketbearers were Lyle’s Awesome Caregivers, Sue Schulte, Cindy Johnson, Liz Sanness and Lyle’s grandchildren, Joseph, Jeremiah and Daniel. Casketbearers were Lee Stegen, Lloyd Stegen, Chris Stegen, Jim Forde, Dave Christen and Dave Bell.
Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah assisted the family with arrangements.