Stephen Gamble Sellergren was born April 21, 1939, in the town of Red Oak, Iowa to DeLaine W. and Virginia G. (Elliot-Gamble) Sellergren. After graduating from Red Oak High School and while attending Northwest Missouri State, Steve met the love of his life, Penelope Kemper Conboy and after only six weeks of knowing one-another they married on November 24, 1961 in Clarinda, Iowa.
Over the next decade, the new couple would live in: Omaha, NE, Peru, NE, San Francisco, CA, Danbury, IA, Fort Collins, CO and finally to Mason City in 1971. Steve studied mortuary science while in San Francisco and returned to Iowa to become a third generational funeral director. While making a new life in Mason City, Steve co-owned Patterson James Funeral Home. His next business adventure was owning the car dealership Sellergren Volkswagen, Audi, Isuzu. After selling the dealership to Schukei, Steve continued to serve the funeral industry by working for Artco Casket Company as a casket salesman. Steve enjoyed traveling throughout the Midwest visiting all his customers on a weekly basis.
Steve was an excellent and avid golfer, hitting two “hole-in ones” at the MCCC. You could find Steve daily hitting golf-balls or constantly trying to improve his swing at the Country Club. Steve was a member of the: S.A.R., and MCCC. Steve enjoyed traveling to Europe to play golf with his brother and cousins.
Steve was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather and his smile, humor and generosity will never be forgotten. Here begins to pass another generation of Iowa’s Sellergren’s, who first came to Chicago from Sweden in 1865, then onto Iowa in 1870 with the building of the first railroad in Iowa. Steve was a proud Swedish and Scottish-Iowan and life-long Hawkeye, his honesty, work ethic and commitment were something to emulate. The Sellergren family would like to thank all those who took care of Steve in his final year, it is truly appreciated.
Stephen is survived by his children, Todd B. Sellergren of Waucoma, Iowa, Derrick A. Sellergren and wife, Rhonda, of Rock Falls, Iowa, and S. Tyler Sellergren of Chicago, Illinois; grandchildren, Chelsea (Ryan) Amundson, Nicole Sellergren, Alexa (Joe) Holz, Mackenzie Sellergren (Ernie Trotta), and Riley Sellergren; great-grandchildren, Ryker, Cayson, and Sawyer Amundson, Henry and Edith Holz; sister Carol Pilkington of Ozark, MO; brother Mark Sellergren and wife, Patricia, of Saint Croix, Virgin Islands; sister-in-law and husband Ann (Conboy) and Ken Washburn, of Saint Roberts, Mo.
Stephen was preceded in death by his wife, Penelope (Penny) Kemper (Conboy) Sellergren on October 15, 2005; parents DeLaine Wesley August and Virginia G. (Elliot-Gamble) Sellergren; grandparents Carl Cunningham and Bydre Faye (Elliot) Gamble, and Walter August and Carolina Augusta (Erickson) Sellergren; brother-in-law, James W. Pilkington; and nephew Matt Pilkington; aunt Lorraine G. (Elliot-Gamble) Hass.
A funeral service will be held 10:30 am Wednesday August 28, 2024 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 120 1st St. NE, Mason City, with The Rev. Stephen Benitz officiating. Committal services will take place in Evergreen Cemetery, Red Oak, Iowa.
Visitation with viewing will be held Tuesday evening, August 27, from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE, Mason City.
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