September 9, 1954 – December 16, 2025
Paul Donavon Steffensen, 71, of Buffalo Center, IA, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at MercyOne North Iowa, Mason City.
Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, December 21, at Gruis Recreation, The Barn from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Schott Funeral Homes – Mittelstadt Chapel in Lake Mills is assisting the family.
Son of Clyde and Deloris (Medlang) Steffensen, Paul was born on September 9, 1954, in Buffalo Center, Iowa. Raised on the farm east of Buffalo Center, he attended Buffalo Center Community School, graduating in 1973. Paul excelled in all sports. He furthered his education at Wartburg College playing basketball for one season.
Paul returned back to Buffalo Center and worked as a mechanic for the Allis Chalmers dealership. Later, he started trucking livestock for Willie Hassebroek and then John Davids.
On December 11, 1976, Paul married Joann Berschman, his high school sweetheart, at the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center. They had just celebrated their 49th anniversary at “Mercy Inn and Suites” (as they often referred to the hospital as).
Paul and Jo were blessed with two children, Tony in 1979 and Abby in 1981. In 1989, the family moved to the farm east of Buffalo Center when Clyde and Deloris retired to town. Paul and Jo raised hogs, corn and soybeans. He loved the farm life, retiring in 2020 after 40+ years. This was during Covid, so his sale was the first on-line auction in Buffalo Center.
In 2000, he started his journey with his defective heart gene, MEF2A. 60 Minutes II was out to the farm to do a story on the Steffensen heart attack gene in the Fall of 2003. Aunt Betty Mitchel of Mankato, MN is the lone surviving Steffensen sibling and she tested negative for the gene. He had his third heart attack and 22nd heart stent put in on Friday, December 12.
For 25 years Paul fought this fight. His lifetime goal was to outlive his father who passed at 70 years, 6 months. Paul made it to 71 years and 3 months. During this time, he continued farming and playing golf. Paul and Jo golfed in every couples tournament they could get into until his health started to affect him. He loved golfing at Gruis Recreation. He spent many volunteer hours helping with mowing, picking up sticks and lately picking up leaves in the fall. Paul was currently the TCRA board president.
Paul is survived by his wife Joann; son Tony and wife Nikkie of Hartford, SD; and daughter Abby and husband Blake Kessler of Ankeny, Iowa; mother Deloris Steffensen; Grandchildren Payton Steffensen and partner (Jacob Goz) of Stockholm, Sweden; Briley Steffensen of Hartford, SD; Jensen Steffensen of Yankton, SD; Zach and Tamra Steen of Windom, MN; Em Steen and partner (Fab Aguila) of Breckenridge, CO; and AJ Steen of Lincoln, NE. Siblings Dale Steffensen and daughters Nicole, Jennifer and Hayley; LaDonna Evans and children: Melissa and Tom; Dawn (Denny) Meinders and daughters: Laura and Lisa; Beth Van Lengen and daughter Jenni; Cathy (Ron) Lulich and children: Hayden, Nate and Emma, and many friends and relatives.
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