Francis Richard (Ric) Steffeck, 79, of Mayville passed away unexpectedly on July 11, while camping on his property on the farm he grew up on near Spruce.
Ric was born on March 15, 1947, to Victor and Suzanne Steffeck in Oconto Falls.
He graduated from Oconto Falls High School, before getting his degree in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. At UWRF, Ric was a four-year starter and letter winner on the football team.
Following graduation, he married Margaret "Peg" McGuan and would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on July 31. After getting married, Ric and Peg moved to Columbus, and then to Mayville, where they raised their three kids and still reside.
He began working for FS and later went on to work for Terra, where he held several management roles throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He finished his career working for Gundrum Brothers/Helena while always servicing Southeastern Wisconsin farmers.
Ric was a parishioner of St. Mary Catholic Church in Mayville and a Knights of Columbus member for nearly 50 years as a charter member. He served as Grand Knight during that time as well.
Ric had several passions. He loved deer hunting on the family farm in Spruce. He was a passionate Green Bay Packers fan, and owner, quoting Vince Lombardi until the end. He loved watching his granddaughters play college basketball. Despite being in Florida, he never missed a game, often holding two phones watching each of them play at the same time. He was also a big fan of his grandson, Max, and followed his soccer success in Washington. He enjoyed his annual snowbird trips to North Fort Myers, where he and Peg spent the last 15 winters together and where he was twice crowned club shuffleboard champion. During retirement, he took up painting, whittling and even carved a few bears from logs with a chainsaw.
Ric also loved traveling to see his family around the world. He especially liked going to see Peg's family in Waterville, ME, and was working on plans to get back there soon. He also enjoyed visiting his children, when they lived in various places like New Jersey; Kansas City, MO; Guadalajara, MX; Belmopan, Belize; Seattle/Leavenworth, Washington; and Colorado, where he would embrace local cultures and scenery.
He is survived by his wife, Peg; his siblings, Patricia (Gene) Sager, Joan Denis, Victor Steffeck and Robert (Selina) Steffeck; his children, Michael (Nicole), Daniel and Elizabeth; his grandchildren, Samantha (Jack) Serbousek, Ashley (Brendan) Sullivan and Max Spiegel; brothers-in-law, Frank (Sue) McGuan, Mike (Denise) McGuan, David McGuan, Greg (Tami) McGuan, and Gary Jenko; and sisters-in-law, Jean (Steve) Petley; Nancy (Nate) Weeks, Cathy (Pete) Durette, Maggie McGuan, as well as many other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law; siblings, James, Cherie, Thomas; and his brothers-in-law, Patrick McGuan and Marc Denis.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, July 23, at 1 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Mayville, with Rev. Fr. Zachary Galante presiding. The visitation for Ric will be held at church on Thursday, July 23, from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 1 p.m. There will be a celebration at the Mayville Golf Course immediately following the mass.
Burial will be held July 25 in Spruce at the Pine Hill Cemetery at 11 am. At noon there will be a celebration held at the Blue Spruce Tavern in downtown Spruce.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus Chapter 8817 or to St. Mary School in Mayville.
Koepsell Funeral Home in Mayville is serving the family. www.Koepsellfh.com
