Lyle Stegen

       Lyle Stegen, age 80, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Northgate Care Center in Waukon, IA.        Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, March 20, 2014, at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church, with Rev. Kathy Wicks presiding. Burial will be in the Iowa River Cemetery, rural Decorah, IA.       Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., on Thursday morning at the church.       Lyle Merlin Stegen was born on March 7, 1934, the son of Arnold and Mabel (Evanson) Stegen on the family farm near Decorah, Iowa. Lyle attended rural country schools and took over the family farm at the age of fourteen. Lyle helped to raise his own siblings, as well as his own children and then his grandchildren. Lyle served in the US Navy from 1956-58. He was united in marriage to Helen Forde on September 13, 1959, in Postville, IA. In 1964, they purchased the family farm and Lyle farmed for there for fifty years. Lyle was a good caretaker of the land and loved his land. He often left the land better than it was when he started farming it, by using good soil conservation practices. Lyle also had a good heart, by helping out neighbors and friends when they were in need. He was a man of the land, enjoyed horses and riding them. Lyle loved his children, and above all his grandchildren. In later years, Lyle enjoyed collecting wood furniture and antiques. He was a member of the Big Canoe Lutheran Church.      Lyle is survived by his wife: Helen Stegen, Decorah, IA. Two sons: Lee (Jenny) Stegen, Waukon, IA, and Lloyd (special friend, Amanda Winters) Stegen, Dorchester, IA. Eight grandchildren: Joseph Stegen, Daniel Hanson, Jeremiah Stegen, Christopher Stegen, Connor Stegen, Grace Stegen, Dylan Stegen and Vaughn Stegen. One great granddaughter: Annabel Stegen. Three sisters: LaVonne Bussey, Sacramento, CA; Dorothy (Dave) Christen, Wadena, IA; and Arla Schmitt, Independence, IA. One brother: Arlan (Lois) Stegen, Cedar Rapids, IA. One sister-in-law: Marlene (Denis) Welch, Waukon, IA. One brother-in-law: Dr. James “Jim” (Jerilyn) Forde, Moorhead, MN.      Lyle was preceded in death by his parents: Arnold and Mabel (Evanson) Stegen. One daughter: Lila Stegen in 1997. One granddaughter: Sena Hanson in 2009. Two brothers: Kenneth in 1939 and Ron in 1998. His father-in-law and mother-in-law: Lloyd and Harriet Forde. Two brothers-in-law: Jim Kingsley and Jack Bussey.