Alice Teresa Steinkamp, 80

Published 3:16 pm Saturday, October 12, 2013

Alice Teresa Steinkamp, 80, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, at the Adams Health Care Center after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s.

Alice Steinkamp

Alice Teresa Steinkamp was born April 22, 1933, near Templeton, Iowa, the daughter of Albert J. and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Irlbeck. Alice grew up on the family farm near Westside, Iowa and attended St. John’s Catholic School in Arcadia, Iowa.

On June 15, 1954, she married Luvern Steinkamp at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia. They were married for 59 years. The couple farmed near Westside, Iowa, until 1959, when they moved to their farm near Taopi, Minn. The couple continued to reside on their family farm until moving to Adams, Minn. in 2008.

Alice was a devoted and proud farm wife working beside Luvern on the family farm. She was a fabulous cook and baker and no one went home hungry from her home. It seems only appropriate since harvest time was one of her favorite times of the year that she chose this time to end her journey here on earth. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, tending to her park-like lawn, canning the bounties of her huge garden, especially her much loved baby dill pickles, reading, sewing and crocheting.

Alice’s faith was very important to her. She was an endless volunteer at Sacred Heart Catholic Church having served as Women’s Council President and a Deanery Officer. She sewed and organized the delivery of many, many baby quilts for the Pope’s Storehouse. New children baptised in the parish for many years were welcomed with a baptismal garment embroidered and sewed by Alice. Sacred Heart School was also an important part of her life as she volunteered for many years in the library, assisting young children with their selections, which she totally delighted in as she herself had a love of reading.

Faith, farm and family were extremely important to Alice. Alice was very active in the Mower County Farm Bureau, having served as Women’s Chair and Farm Safety Coordinator. She educated and promoted farm safety to many organizations.

Alice is survived by her husband of 59 years, Luvern. Son, Alan (Jane) Steinkamp of Adams, and daughter, Debbie (Richard) Schammel of Owatonna, Minn. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Chad (Mary) Steinkamp, Taopi, Ryan (Jenna) Steinkamp, Taopi, Troy (Liz) Steinkamp, Adams, and Jason Steinkamp, Adams, Craig (Melissa) Schammel, Blooming Prairie, Minn., Kristen (Von) Petersen, Bloomington, Minn., and Kimberly (Wes) Albers, Jackson, Minn. Great-grandchildren, Abigail, Kylie, Zoe and Derek Steinkamp, Lauren, Lucas and Lily Schammel, Colten and Kacen Petersen, many nieces and nephews and godchildren. Sister, Marie (Gerald) Berg, Arcadia, Iowa, Brothers, Larry (Joyce) Irlbeck, Westside, Iowa, Allen (Sue) Irlbeck, Avoca, Iowa and Elmer (Linda) Irlbeck, Westside, Iowa, sister-in-law, Marijane Irlbeck, Racine, Minn.

She is predeceased by two infant sons, her parents, brother, Edwin Irlbeck, and sister Lavon Irlbeck.

While her faith and farm were extremely important to Alice, she was the most proud of her family and especially her grandchildren.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Swaminatha Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. A prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14, at the Adams Funeral Home where friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. and also on Tuesday at the Adams Funeral Home from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Memorials may be directed to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Sacred Heart School or Sacred Heart Daycare.