Mae Steffen

Mae Agnes Steffen, 86, of Verona, Wisconsin passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 7, 2022.  Mae was born on November 22, 1935, in Tama County, Iowa to Anthony (Tony) and Agnes E. (Hala) Kucera.  She grew up on a farm in rural Iowa. Mae had a strong calling to enter into a life of servitude and joined the Notre Dame Sisters Community in Omaha, NE on August 12, 1954.  As a Sister, Mae continued her college studies earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Duchesne College. She taught third grade in the Madison school system for several years.

She married Roger Dean Steffen on April 7, 1969.  Mae embraced motherhood by raising four beautiful children. She enjoyed taking her family to social and church functions.  In May of 1980, Mae suffered a brain aneurysm. After she returned home, she continued to enjoy her hobbies including gardening, needle point, and art. Mae was employed as a teacher’s aide and nurse’s aide for a number of years. In addition, she shuttled her four children around to summer activities such as swimming lessons and day trips to Wingra beach. She was not afraid to try new things–whether it be testing out a new recipe or buying tickets to attend Pink Floyd at Camp Randall Stadium.

After several years, Mae needed more assistance with care and moved to Badger Prairie in Verona. The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of the staff for the great care Mae received for the last quarter century of her life. Mae especially enjoyed art therapy and spending time outdoors with the staff.

Mae is survived by her four children, Mark and Callie (Williams) Steffen, Julie (Steffen) Wilhelmson, Eric and Teresa (Handel) Steffen, and Darian and Sara (Steffen) Hall. In addition, she is survived by her four grandchildren: Jillian and Molly Wilhelmson; and Natalie and Colin Hall; sister Carrie Massey  and three brothers  Ernest Kucera (Fran), Gerald Kucera (Patty) and Antone Kucera (Carolyn).  She was preceded in death by her parents, her stepmother Lillian (Axler) (Podhajsky) Kucera, her husband Roger, her sister Marjorie (Kucera) Upah; her brothers-in-law Richard (Dick) Upah and James (Jim) Massey; her sister-in-law Sylvia (Amcha) Kucera.

A visitation will be held on Monday, February 21 at OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE, 401 S. Owen Dr., Madison, from 10-11 am.  Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11 am.  If you are unable to join us in person, please join us using the following link: https://youtu.be/q5Ppj0ROSv0 .

In lieu of donations, please make checks out to Badger Prairie Resident Recreation Fund.