Josephine ‘Jo’ Steele

Josephine “Jo” Steele, 94, of Creston passed away Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at Greater Regional Health in Creston.

Mass of Christian burial services will be 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Fr. Kenneth Halbur Jr. as celebrant. Open visitation with family receiving friends will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at the church. Private burial will be held at a later date in Calvary Cemetery in Creston. Pearson Family Funeral Service and Cremation Center, 809 W. Montgomery St., in Creston is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Gibson Memorial Library, Girl Scouts of America or Union County 4-H. Online condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.

Josephine Bernadine (Szkutnik) Steele, the daughter of Joseph and Anna Julia (Maciag) Szkutnik, was born Jan. 10, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Straubenmuller Textile High School in Brooklyn, New York, in January 1941, where she was a member of the National Honor Society and Newman Club.

She was united in marriage to Franklin Steele on Oct. 16, 1944, in New York City, New York, while Franklin was serving in the United States Navy. Five children were born to bless this union, Linda, Kris, Clint, Joel and Joseph.

During the war, Jo worked for an import/export business in downtown Brooklyn, New York. Jo moved to Creston in November 1945 at the close of World War II, and worked as a homemaker taking care of her family. She was an active housewife. She was also active in the St. Malachy Parish and later the Holy Spirit Parish. Jo was a member of the Creston Council of Catholic Women and Catholic Daughters of America. Jo enjoyed traveling, playing golf and bridge. She especially enjoyed her children’s and grandchilden’s activities. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Left to cherish Jo’s memory are her children, Linda (Craig) Neppl of Estherville, Kris (Bob) Kerrigan of Afton, Clint (Mary Kay) Steele of Ames and Joel Steele of Shawnee, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Brent (Emma) Neppl, Stephanie Neppl, Derek (Gina) Neppl, Curtis (Melissa) Neppl, Wade (Jessica) Kerrigan, Angee (Dave) Simmons, Alex (Missy) Kerrigan, Rachel (Kevin) Thomas, Angie (Matt) Sherwood, Andrea (Ryan) Rock and Anna (Dan) Kaminski; great-grandchildren, Evie, Lucas, Taylor, Laney, Samantha and Maya Neppl, Eileen, Julia and Georgia Kerrigan, Flannery and Finn Simmons, Amelie, Frankie and Genevieve Kerrigan, Roy, Audrey and Margot Thomas, Ava, Reese and Vera Rock, Josephine, Jackson and Jerry Sherwood and Clark Kaminski; and sister-in-law Kay Glover of Hideaway, Texas.

Preceding Jo in death were her parents; husband Franklin; infant son Joseph Dwight; brother Matthew Szkutnik; sister Amelia Mauser; sisters-in-law, Margaret Pontow and Doris Steele; and brothers-in-law, Bill Steele, Ben Pontow and Jack Glover.