Gerald Richard Steen

Gerald R. 'Gerry' Steen, 74, of 5009 Broadlawn Dr. SE, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Jesup, died at home on Saturday, March 7, 2009, following a bout with cancer. Memorial services: 1:00 pm. Sunday, April 19, 2009, at Jesup Bible Fellowship, Jesup, Iowa, by Pastor T. Dahlgren. Burial: Graceland Cemetery, Buffalo Center, Iowa. Arrangements by Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; his son, Diedrick and his wife, Virginia; three grandsons, Matthias, Harmon, and Micah, all of Cedar Rapids. Gerry was born December 19, 1934 in Buffalo Center, Iowa, the son of George and Minnie (Beekman) Steen. He served in the U.S. Air Force ROTC and graduated from Iowa State University in 1956. He volunteered for service in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was recalled to active duty during the Berlin Crisis. On July 26, 1958, he married Barbara Popkes in Cedar Falls. For the last 25 years, Gerry was a Realtor with Bill Ramsey Realtors in Waterloo. He was a charter member of the 1st Baptist Church in Decorah and Jesup Bible Fellowship, a member of the barbershop choruses in Decorah and Independence, past chair of the Buchanan County Republicans, member of Waterloo, Iowa American Board of Realtors, and a moderator for the American Baptist Churches of Minnesota and Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be directed to the American Bible Society, Cedar Valley Christian School, Jesup Bible Fellowship, Linn County Salvation Army, or the Zola Levitt Ministries.