LYLA STEGER

Lyla Steger, 98, died peacefully on Jan. 6, 2010, at her home of seven years, Kindred Hearts Assisted Living in Plymouth, just shy of her 99th birthday.

She was born in New Ulm, Minn., on Feb. 11, 1911, the third child of nine born to Otto and Ellen Kruschke.

When her family later moved to a farm in Breckenridge, Minn., she met her future husband, George. They were married on June 25, 1938, in Laona, Wis.

Then, because of a good job opportunity, they moved to Plymouth in 1940.

In 1946, they started their own heating and sheet metal business called Plymouth Sheet Metal & Furnace Co. and Lyla was in charge of the bookkeeping and finances. Later on, they added air conditioning and appliances, thus creating Steger’s Heating and Cooling. Today it is third generation owned by one of their grandsons.

For many years Lyla belonged to a ladies bowling league in Plymouth and was a member of a square-dancing group with her husband. She was very active in the Christian Mothers at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and also the PTA while her children attended Plymouth High School.

In addition to her activities within the community, Lyla’s creative and artistic talents were many. Her love of music was developed at an early age when she taught herself to play the piano, and later on in life, the organ. She was also a self-taught seamstress, starting with making patterns and clothes for herself as a young girl on the farm and throughout her life for her children and grandchildren. She also created beautiful quilts for her grandchildren and, later on, with the Ladies Guild at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Her talent for taking pieces of material and placing them together was a beautiful form of art.

She also loved her flower garden and definitely had a special energy with all the plants in her home. Her love of knitting was shown in all the beautiful knitted sweaters, afghans, Christmas ornaments, shawls, baby blankets, etc. she made for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, plus baby caps for the newborns at the hospitals. Crocheting was another of her many talents. She could look at any finished piece, figure out the patterns and proceed to make it herself. Again, her family and friends were the recipients of these many projects.

During her seven years living at Kindred Hearts Assisted Living, she enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, (actually creating her own dictionary of words), playing card games, and watching the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers.

As a mother and grandmother, she’ll be remembered as constantly busy. Her favorite saying was, “if something needs to be done, just do it.” Kindness, strength, determination, humility, integrity and her gentle, dry sense of humor were the traits she’ll always be remembered for. She was a loving and devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.

Survivors include her three children, JoAnn (Bill) Mueller, Shelby (Chuck) Andrews and Bob (Mary) Steger; her 12 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, who always knew her as “Nana.” She is further survived by her sister, Lois Norby of Minnesota; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Lyla was preceded in death by her husband, George, and her parents Otto and Ellen Kruschke, her brothers, Armie, Orville, Harold and Marvin, and her sisters, Amie, Caroline and Minerva.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at noon, Tuesday, Jan. 12, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Plymouth. The Very Rev. Dennis Van Beek, pastor of the church will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the church at 11 a.m. on Tuesday until the time of services.

A memorial fund is being established in Lyla’s name.

The Suchon Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Plymouth is serving her family. For online condolences, visit www.suchonfh.com.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff at Kindred Hearts Assisted Living for the many years of friendships, kindness and caring. Thank you, also, to the staff at Heartland Health Care and Hospice for your help and concern.