John R. Steenson

John R. Steenson, 66, of Columbus, formerly of Wolbach, died peacefully with his family by his side on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, in Columbus.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 11, 2022 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul.  Father Vince Parsons will be presiding.  Interment will be in the Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach.

Visitation will be from 4:00 -7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 10, 2022 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church.  The Rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date. 

John was born April 2, 1956, to Delmar & Reva (Marco) Steenson at Palmer, Nebraska.  John grew up with a hard work ethic and strong faith, on the farm just east of Wolbach.  John attended Wolbach School, graduating in 1974.  He was an outstanding athlete in school, playing football, basketball, baseball and winning the Nebraska state title in discus his senior year. He won the Edsel Wibbels award in 1974.   He was also a Golden Glove boxer.  He attended Kearney College in Kearney.  He married Diane Whalen on November 22, 1975 during a blizzard at the O’Conner, Nebraska.  They lived on the family farm until moving into town in 1990. They raised their three kids Jarod, Sara and Shelli in Wolbach.

“Big John” as he was commonly known followed in his father’s footsteps and managed the Farmer’s Union Co-Op Elevator in Wolbach from 1975 to 2005, when he and Diane moved to  Minden, NE where he worked for Cooperative Producers Incorporated as the manager of the grain elevator in Funk, NE until his retirement in 2010.  In 2013, he and Diane relocated to Columbus, Nebraska.     

John was a past member of the Wolbach School Board, Wolbach Volunteer Fire Dept and EMT, Wolbach Village Board and Wolbach Saddle Club.  He was a member of the Wolbach School Board for numerous years.  He was very proud to be the recipient of the 2002 “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” award from the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Association.  He loved all things farming, cattle, hunting, and horses.                                             

John is survived by his wife, Diane Steenson of Columbus; son and daughter-in-law, Jarod & Shelby Steenson of Wolbach; daughters and son-in-law, Sara Steenson of Duncan, Shelli & Brian Naughton of Columbus; brothers and sisters-in-law, Mike & Patsy Steenson of Grand Island, Tom & Susan Steenson of Wolbach; Jan Steenson of Wolbach;  sisters & brothers-in-law, Margie Dubas of Columbus, Betsy Dubas of Columbus, Linda & Jack Bailey of Fullerton, Penny & Gerry Small of Fullerton, Mary Reab of Grand Island; grandchildren, Shayla Steenson of Kearney. Elli Steenson of Kearney, Jack Steenson of Grand Island, Audrey, Emma, Isaac, and Olivia Naughton, all of Columbus; step-grandson, Treyton Ruhl of Wolbach; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Delmar and Reva Steenson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lloyd and Darlene Whalen; brother, Patrick Steenson; sisters, JoAnn Dubas and Judy Steenson.

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