Catherine Steffenhagen Obituary

Catherine Elizabeth Steffenhagen (Ko-ch), 98, of Lake City passed away Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 at Mayo Clinic Health System - Lake City Care Center.
    Catherine was born on Oct. 1, 1919, in rural West Albany Township to Constance and Mary (Sauter) Koch. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church and graduated from Mary E. McCahill High School in Lake City in 1938. After graduation she worked several years as a telephone operator at the Dwelle Telephone Company in Lake City and also played piano with various bands on weekends. Catherine married Harry Steffenhagen on Oct. 26, 1946 at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City. She was a homemaker and lifelong resident of Lake City.
    Catherine enjoyed playing piano and played organ at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church for many years. She loved her family, babies, Big Band music, gardening, and baking apple pies. She was active in Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life and the VFW Auxiliary in Lake City.
    Catherine is survived by her children, Mary (John) Wiater of Rochester, Richard (Betty) Steffenhagen of Lake City, Jean Steffenhagen of St. Louis Park, Joan (Myke) Wallin of Big Lake, Minn., Mark (Joan) Steffenhagen of Evansville, Ind., and John (Serena) Steffenhagen of St. Louis Park. She also is survived by 10 grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Claire, Grace, Harry, Anne, Marie, Jacob, Daniel, Zachary, and Maggie and three great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Michael and Hallie. Catherine was preceded in death by her husband, Harry; brothers, George Koch and Richard Koch; and sisters, Agnes Barra, Connie Cyre, Dorothy Leonard, Mary Hoeft and Liguori Koch.    
    A Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Feb. 2,  at 11 a.m. at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake City with Father Joseph Pete officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
    Online condolences can be sent to www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.