Eric Anthony Steffes, 85, of Holton, Kansas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at The Pines in Holton.

Eric was born on December 8, 1937, in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Erwin J. and Helen Levy Steffes.  He grew up in the Janesville community and attended Janesville High School, graduating in 1956.  Eric started his academia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before transferring to Milton College in Milton, Wis., where he earned his B.A. in English, in 1960.

In 1964, Eric Steffes married Sandra Kins at Faith Lutheran Church in Ellsworth, Wisconsin.  The couple made their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 7 years where Eric was a furniture buyer for Dayton-Hudson.  They moved to Des Moines, Iowa for 5 years, where he was the buyer and co-store manager at Ginsburg Furniture, until 1976. The couple then moved to Webster City, Iowa, for 3 years where he managed Brin’s Furniture.  Then, in 1980 the couple moved to Concordia, Kansas and lived there for 16 years as he managed Wilson’s Furniture. In 1996 the couple moved back up north to Madison, Wis., where he finished out his career working for A-1 Furniture Store until his retirement in 2014.  From there they moved to Frankfort, Kansas, in 2015, to be closer to their son and family.  Finally, in August of 2023, they moved into their final destination, an assisted living home in Holton, Kansas.

Eric was proud of his country and his army reserve service from 1960-1966, where he was assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and then Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. He held the rank of SPC 5 at the time of his honorable discharge.

Eric was a past president and member of the Rotary Club, as well as president of the Chamber of Commerce in Concordia, Kansas, both in the 1980s and early 90s.  He was an avid sports fan, particularly of golf and basketball. He played both sports in high school, and at Milton College. He loved his Wisconsin Badgers, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, and PGA Golf.  He was also enamored with studying the meaning and origin of words.  He had a mind for minutiae, particularly when it came to environmental and geographical facts, but never more so than when it pertained to the English language, grammar, and its articulation.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Erwin (Steve) Steffes on March 15, 1957, and Helen Steffes on February 16, 2006; and brother Jack J. Manning in 2014.

Eric is survived by his wife of 59 years, Sandra of Holton; son, Scott A. Steffes of Netawaka, Kansas; grandchildren, Grant E. Steffes of Netawaka, and Jacob W. Steffes of Frankfort, Kansas; his sister-in-law, Pat Manning of Surprise, Arizona; Cousins in Nebraska, and Arizona; nieces and nephews in Montana, Utah, and Minnesota.

Eric was a compassionate, loving, and caring husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He loved to tell stories of his time growing up, and of his dear friends that he so cherished. He was very much loved, and forever will be, by those who were fortunate to have had a relationship with him.

No formal services are planned, and the burial will be private, per his wishes.

Memorials may be sent directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital online at: https://www.stjude.org