Dennis E. Steager

Dennis Steager, 82, of Rising City, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 at his home with his family by his side.

In lieu of flowers, plants, and statues, memorials can be made to Sacred Heart Capital Campaign, Rising City Volunteer Fire Department or Butler County Ag Society Foundation.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, July 7, 2025 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shelby. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5 until 7 with a parish rosary recited at 7 p.m., all at the church. Visitation will resume on Monday from 9 until 10 a.m. Burial with military honors will be at the Shelby Catholic Cemetery with lunch following at the American Legion Hall. Moravec Johnson Mortuary is handling arrangements for Dennis’s family.

Helen Keller once said “What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” We are here today to celebrate the life of Dennis Steager and to say goodbye to a wonderful man that we deeply loved. We would like to thank you all for coming here today to mourn the loss of Dennis with our family.

Dennis was born on May 4, 1943 in David City, Nebraska to Ernest E. and Sophie C. Steager. Dennis was an only child. He attended Greenleaf Country School, graduated from Rising City High School in 1961, and then attended Norfolk Junior College until he returned home due to his dad’s health. He served in the United States Army National Guard from 1962 to October 1968 when he received an honorable discharge. Dennis and Donna Lou were married November 12, 1966 and in 1972 they adopted twin boys, Dannie and Donnie. Shortly after they were married, Dennis and Donna Lou won the Young Farmers Award from Farmers Co-op “Farmland”.

He was a hard worker. He worked a few years at the Farmers Co-op in Shelby before returning to the farm. He put his heart and soul into the family farming and ranching operation. Over the years he enjoyed raising corn and soybeans while maintaining hog and cattle operations. Dennis and Donna Lou started raising pigs in a 4-sow shed that Dennis built and in 1972 they upgraded to include a farrowing house. They spent 37 years raising from farrow to finish. They raised 4H and FFA cattle and calves. His pride was watching the boys show their cattle and bucket calves. They won many awards at the Fremont, Butler, and York County Fairs. He followed his dad’s love for Allis Chalmers tractors and Gleaner combines. He spent several years selling Prairie Valley Seed, Staufer Seed, and Northrup King seed.

He always wanted to make good decisions in life for his family, church, and community. Over the years he served on the Surprise District 1-R school board, the Sacred Heart church council, the Read township board as treasurer, and the Rising City Co-op. He was a member of Butler County Pork Producers, Butler County Cattlemen’s Association, and the Butler County Jaycees. His catholic faith was important to him and he impressed that on his sons. He enjoyed sharing his passion for farming, the Huskers, and even the New York Yankees with his wife, children, and grandchildren. Dennis enjoyed spending time with his friends as well, whether it was coffee at the Pit Stop in the morning, playing cards at the bar, or just getting together to play cards and visit at home. Dennis and Donna Lou enjoyed square dancing together. If you visited him, you’d be sure to find yourself watching a western with him.

Umberto Eco once said “I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren’t trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom.” This was certainly true for Dennis. Spending time with his family and teaching them the family farming operation was his greatest love. So many lessons were taught to the boys while they were learning the ins and outs of farming, taking care of their 4H projects, holding judging contests and family picnics at the farm, enjoying a family holiday together, or the lessons learned when they made a mistake. The best gift a father can give his children is his belief in them. Denny made sure his children could preserve over any obstacle life would throw at them because he made them believe they could. There were many family trips for vacations, days at Mahoney State Park, mini golf, and the Columbus park. Denny’s motto was it is always work before play though.

He went through the age of having little to no electronics to learning how to use a cell phone. Electronics may not have been his thing, but math certainly was. He could always compute math problems in his head before we could get them typed into our calculators.

Denny was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and would give anything for his wife, children, and grandchildren. But he was a stubborn one too. Even when his health was failing and he couldn’t get out and about much, he was still farming from the house – telling the boys what they needed to be doing each day. And if he asked you a question and didn’t get the answer he wanted, he would keep asking until he got the answer he was looking for.

When we were recalling our greatest memories of Denny, the one that came to mind for us was his love of the Huskers. There were many trips to Lincoln to watch the Huskers play at Memorial Stadium and a few out of state trips to Bowl games.

We all loved Dennis very much and will miss him dearly. He touched so many lives. We know that we will see him again when our time on this earth will come to an end and we too will be with him in heaven.

He is survived by his wife, Donna Lou of Rising City; his children, Dannie (Sheri) Steager of Surprise and Donnie (Stacy) Steager of Surprise; his grandchildren, Ty (Katie) Steager of Shelby, Taylor Steager of Surprise, and Makenna Steager of Surprise; cousin, Evelyn Polacek of Surprise, and extended family and a wealth of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, and cousin, Delmar Polacek.