Marcus J. "Mac" Stessman
November 16, 1928 — March 4, 2017
Marcus John Stessman, son of Leonard John and Isabel Teresa (Assman) Stessman was born November 16, 1928 in Earling, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling, where he remained a lifetime member. He attended grade school and high school at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Earling, graduating with the class of 1946.
After high school, Mac helped his father on the family farm before enlisting in the United States Army on July 26, 1951, during the Korean War. He served his country honorably until being discharged March 4, 1953. While serving his country, Mac was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Campaign Stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
On June 5, 1956, Marcus was united in marriage to Margaret “Peg” Kramer at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. They became parents to six children: Sharon, Tom, LuAnn, Gary, Mary, and Maureen. Mac worked at a variety of places through-out the years, with farming, working at Purina Feeds, the service station in Earling, Red Giant Oil Company and was a long time Knights of Columbus Insurance agent. In later years, he worked for CDS Global in Harlan.
Mac was very involved in his community and church and was an active member in Knights of Columbus Earling Council No. 1741 and was a proud member of the 4th Degree serving in several positions as well as the Luke E. Hart Chalice Club. Mac also took great pride in his service to his country and was a long time member of the Earling American Legion Post No. 615. He enjoyed spending time playing cards, going to the casinos and eating out. Time he cherished most was with his family and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mac died on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa surrounded by his loving family, attaining the age of eighty-eight years, three months and sixteen days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson Marcus Brendlinger, brothers Ray Stessman, Jack Stessman, Msgr. Rev. Gerald Stessman and Vern Stessman.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Margaret “Peg” Stessman of Earling, Iowa; children: Sharon Gross and special friend Bob Book of Portsmouth, Iowa; Tom Stessman and his wife Pam of Harlan, Iowa; LuAnn and her husband Randy Brendlinger of Stuart, Florida; Gary Stessman and his wife Jenny of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Mary and her husband Bill Heaps of Ozark, Missouri and Maureen and her husband Rob Phillips of Foley, Alabama; thirteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; siblings: Rita and her husband Don Wall of Omaha, Nebraska; Delores and her husband Marvin Klein of Dunlap, Iowa; Don Stessman and his wife JoAnne of Dunlap, Iowa; Leo Stessman and his wife Mary of Omaha, Nebraska; Helen Reisz of Woodbine, Iowa; Ron Stessman of Omaha, Nebraska; Gail Stessman and his wife Maureen of Dunlap, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
After high school, Mac helped his father on the family farm before enlisting in the United States Army on July 26, 1951, during the Korean War. He served his country honorably until being discharged March 4, 1953. While serving his country, Mac was awarded the Korean Service Medal with 3 Bronze Campaign Stars, the United Nations Service Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.
On June 5, 1956, Marcus was united in marriage to Margaret “Peg” Kramer at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Earling. They became parents to six children: Sharon, Tom, LuAnn, Gary, Mary, and Maureen. Mac worked at a variety of places through-out the years, with farming, working at Purina Feeds, the service station in Earling, Red Giant Oil Company and was a long time Knights of Columbus Insurance agent. In later years, he worked for CDS Global in Harlan.
Mac was very involved in his community and church and was an active member in Knights of Columbus Earling Council No. 1741 and was a proud member of the 4th Degree serving in several positions as well as the Luke E. Hart Chalice Club. Mac also took great pride in his service to his country and was a long time member of the Earling American Legion Post No. 615. He enjoyed spending time playing cards, going to the casinos and eating out. Time he cherished most was with his family and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Mac died on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa surrounded by his loving family, attaining the age of eighty-eight years, three months and sixteen days. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson Marcus Brendlinger, brothers Ray Stessman, Jack Stessman, Msgr. Rev. Gerald Stessman and Vern Stessman.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years Margaret “Peg” Stessman of Earling, Iowa; children: Sharon Gross and special friend Bob Book of Portsmouth, Iowa; Tom Stessman and his wife Pam of Harlan, Iowa; LuAnn and her husband Randy Brendlinger of Stuart, Florida; Gary Stessman and his wife Jenny of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Mary and her husband Bill Heaps of Ozark, Missouri and Maureen and her husband Rob Phillips of Foley, Alabama; thirteen grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; siblings: Rita and her husband Don Wall of Omaha, Nebraska; Delores and her husband Marvin Klein of Dunlap, Iowa; Don Stessman and his wife JoAnne of Dunlap, Iowa; Leo Stessman and his wife Mary of Omaha, Nebraska; Helen Reisz of Woodbine, Iowa; Ron Stessman of Omaha, Nebraska; Gail Stessman and his wife Maureen of Dunlap, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other family members and many friends.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Marcus J. "Mac" Stessman, please visit our flower store.