She was born in Ernestville, Missouri, on November 6, 1931, the daughter of Norbert and Amalia “Molly” Oetting Lueck. She was baptized at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Ernestville as an infant, and confirmed as an eighth grader in 1945 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Emma, Missouri.
The family lived in Blackburn where she was raised on the farm. She often spoke of how much she loved farm life, helping her father in the field and doing chores, and riding horses to school with her brothers Vernon and Harold.
She was of German heritage and her family spoke both English and Low German in the home.
Jeri attended Zion Lutheran School in Blackburn for six years and Holy Cross in Emma for two. At Alma (now Santa Fe) High School in Alma, Missouri, she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Stan Steffens.
Stan and Jeri were married April 29, 1951, at Zion Lutheran Church in Blackburn. They were blessed to celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2023.
Jeri loved horseback riding and was especially fond of her Tennessee Walker, Jude. She enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. She could play the piano by ear. She also was skilled at hand embroidery, taught by her talented mother. She loved to surprise people by speaking German to them, and especially enjoyed a trip to Germany in 1978 with her mother.
Their marriage was blessed with four children, who survive: Hope (Phil) Seider of Clinton; Scott (Joani) Steffens of Hernando, Florida; Gregg (Pam) Steffens of McKinney, Texas; and Leigh (Keith) Dalton of Clinton.
Also surviving is her husband Stan and eight grandchildren: Shannon (Brian) Crosby of Springfield; Carmen (Tyson) Rathert of Clinton; Alicia (Ben) Russell of Adrian; Melaine Dalton of Clinton; Amanda (Matt) Thompson of Paso Robles, California; Brooke Steffens (Ryan Huls) of Lufkin, Texas; Courtney (Bryan) Ehase of Jefferson City; and Matthew (Priscilla) Steffens of Sturgeon, 14 great-grandchildren: Natalie and Tate Crosby; Nolan and Lane Rathert; Ethan and Mia Russell; Alyssa, Van, and Isla Thompson; Wyatt and Maverick Huls; and Jaxon, Jett, and Charlie Ehase, also one brother, Harold (Hazel) Lueck of Alma. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Vernon Lueck and his wife Frances; and a sister-in-law, Edith Lueck.
One great-grandchild preceded her in death, Luke Tyson Rathert, and we know they are having a joyful reunion in Heaven.
Funeral services are being held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 11, 2023 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, where Stan and Jeri were members for nearly 50 years. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Englewood Cemetery in Clinton, Missouri. She is being laid to rest in Englewood Cemetery in Clinton. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be given to the Hospice Care Foundation of Good Shepherd Hospice and may be left in care of the funeral home.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.
She was of German heritage and her family spoke both English and Low German in the home.
Jeri attended Zion Lutheran School in Blackburn for six years and Holy Cross in Emma for two. At Alma (now Santa Fe) High School in Alma, Missouri, she met her high school sweetheart and future husband, Stan Steffens.
Stan and Jeri were married April 29, 1951, at Zion Lutheran Church in Blackburn. They were blessed to celebrate their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2023.
Jeri loved horseback riding and was especially fond of her Tennessee Walker, Jude. She enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. She could play the piano by ear. She also was skilled at hand embroidery, taught by her talented mother. She loved to surprise people by speaking German to them, and especially enjoyed a trip to Germany in 1978 with her mother.
Their marriage was blessed with four children, who survive: Hope (Phil) Seider of Clinton; Scott (Joani) Steffens of Hernando, Florida; Gregg (Pam) Steffens of McKinney, Texas; and Leigh (Keith) Dalton of Clinton.
Also surviving is her husband Stan and eight grandchildren: Shannon (Brian) Crosby of Springfield; Carmen (Tyson) Rathert of Clinton; Alicia (Ben) Russell of Adrian; Melaine Dalton of Clinton; Amanda (Matt) Thompson of Paso Robles, California; Brooke Steffens (Ryan Huls) of Lufkin, Texas; Courtney (Bryan) Ehase of Jefferson City; and Matthew (Priscilla) Steffens of Sturgeon, 14 great-grandchildren: Natalie and Tate Crosby; Nolan and Lane Rathert; Ethan and Mia Russell; Alyssa, Van, and Isla Thompson; Wyatt and Maverick Huls; and Jaxon, Jett, and Charlie Ehase, also one brother, Harold (Hazel) Lueck of Alma. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother Vernon Lueck and his wife Frances; and a sister-in-law, Edith Lueck.
One great-grandchild preceded her in death, Luke Tyson Rathert, and we know they are having a joyful reunion in Heaven.
Funeral services are being held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 11, 2023 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Clinton, where Stan and Jeri were members for nearly 50 years. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 prior to the service. Burial will follow in the Englewood Cemetery in Clinton, Missouri. She is being laid to rest in Englewood Cemetery in Clinton. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be given to the Hospice Care Foundation of Good Shepherd Hospice and may be left in care of the funeral home.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.
