Donald 'Don' T. Steege

Donald "Don" T. Steege of The Villages, Fla., died on Oct. 30, 2013. Don was the son of Ted and Minnie Steege and was born and raised in Sumner, Iowa. He married Arlene Morf in 1951, and they were blessed with three children, John, Mark and Ann. Don graduated from Wartburg College with a B.A. in business administration, and from the College of Law at the University of Iowa with a juris doctorate degree. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, spending 18 months in Germany. Don practiced law in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for 32 years, specializing in business, real estate and probate law, and was counsel for First Federal Savings and Loan for 20 years. He was active in the community serving on the Pottawattamie County School Board, trustee of Iowa Western Community College, Mercy Health Foundation board of directors serving as chairman, Pottawattamie County Republican chairman and served on several committees of the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Council Bluffs Noon Rotary serving as a past president. He was a member of the board of directors of Abstract Guaranty. He was instrumental in the foundation of Bethany Lutheran Home. Don was a member of the Pottawattamie County Bar Association until his retirement and a member of Iowa State Bar Association for many years. In 1991, Don retired and he and his wife, Arlene, moved to Bella Vista, Ark., where he served for six years on the board of directors of the Property Owners Association, serving as its chairman and vice chairman. In 2001, they moved to The Villages and he served for three years on the architectural review committee. He was a volunteer driver taking cancer patients to treatments. Don was active in all of the Lutheran churches to which he belonged, serving on church council as chairman and treasurer, communion assistant, lector and usher. Don was an avid reader, especially biographies and historical books. He loved to cook, play bridge and golf, and was an avid sports fan. He kept it no secret that he was a faithful follower of his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. Don is survived by his loving wife, Arlene, to whom he was married for 62 years. Survivors include son, John Steege and wife, Chris, of Lenexa, Kan., son, Mark Steege and wife, Lisa, of Gorham, Maine; and daughter, Ann McKay and husband, Paul, of Olathe, Kan.; as well as five grandchildren and one great-grandson. A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church in The Villages on Nov. 15. Internment of his ashes will be at Bushnell National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hope Lutheran Church, the American Heart Association or Cornerstone Hospice of Lake/Sumter Counties.