Gary Steffen

Funeral service will be at 2 P.M., Friday, Oct. 13, 2023 at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen with Karla Buckner officiating.  Burial will follow at the Remsen Cemetery.  Visitation with family present will be from 1-2 P.M. on Friday.  As per Gary’s wishes, we would like everyone to dress casually for the service and to wear a favorite fishing shirt if you have one.  Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen.  

Gary was born on October 22, 1962 in Le Mars, to Roy and Marge (Bruckner) Steffen.  He grew up on the farm in rural Remsen.  He attended Remsen-Union graduating with the class of 1981.  This is where he got his first nickname of Tank. He went on to attend Northwestern College in Orange City.  He played football for the Red Raiders for 3 years where he made friends for life.  He was a defensive tackle and part of the 1983 NAIA Division 2 National Champions. He then went on to finish his education at Iowa State University with a degree in Agricultural Mechanization with a computer option.

He married Terri Snyder in Sioux City, IA in 1993.  They later divorced.

He was the Assistant Manager for the Farm Progress Show in 1987.  From there he went to work for Wheelhorse later known as Toro as a Field Service Representative.  During this time, he lived in Knoxville, TN, Hershey, PA, and Ocala, FL.  He then moved to the Toro office in Minneapolis as a Senior Training Specialist.  He went on to become an Information Technology Consultant working with many companies across the United States and Canada.  He started his own IT consulting business with a few partners but most recently worked for US Bank in Minneapolis.

Gary loved all outdoor activities, but fishing became his passion, especially walleye fishing.  He loved his annual trips to Lake Erie and Chamberlain.  He spent many hours watching YouTube videos on how to perfect his skills to catch that monster fish.  He also loved bicycling spending many hours riding the paths in Minneapolis.  He rode in RAGBRAI for 25 years and had planned to ride this year up until the last minute.  It was here he got the nickname, Tailwind, as his riding buddies were always in his tailwind.

He is survived by sons, Zachary and Isaac Steffen of Eagan, MN; Sister, Deb Steffen of Remsen, IA and brother, Ryan Steffen of Germantown, IA; very special friend Laura Buckner and her children, Alana and Kaleb, and her niece, Kirsten; his nieces, Jessica and Amanda Steffen; nephew Joshua Steffen; many aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.

He was preceded by his parents, Roy and Marge Steffen, brother, John Steffen. grandparents, Fred and Anna Steffen and Leonard and Hazel Bruckner.

Casket bearers will be his fishing buddies known as the “Big Boys”, Steve De Vries, Randy Frericks, Brock De Vries, Scott Uhl, Jeff Howenstein, Scott Van Eldik and Brent Beswick.