Leo Joseph Steffen, Jr.

March 07, 2017

Leo Joseph Steffen, Jr.

Service Details

Leo Joseph Steffen, Jr., 84, passed away March 7, 2017. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA, with the Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, March 13, at 10:00 a.m., at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 7075 Ashworth Rd in West Des Moines. Burial will be at Iowa Veterans Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.

Leo was born June 24, 1932, in Oelwein, IA, to Emma (Meska) and Leo Steffen, Sr. He graduated from Oelwein High School and joined the Navy, serving for nearly 4 years as a Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class, attached to a Marine unit during the Korean War. Upon returning home, Leo continued his education at the University of Iowa, earning a Juris Doctor degree in 1962.

Except for a few years with Reuben Goldberg Law Firm in the District of Columbia (where he met his wife), Leo worked most of his career with the Commerce Commission of the State of Iowa, later known as the Consumer Advocates Office of the Attorney General. There he helped lay the foundation for the regulation of utilities in the State of Iowa.

Memberships included the American, Iowa, and District of Columbia Bar Associations. He was admitted and qualified as an attorney and counsellor of the United States Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States.

In his spare time, Leo enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading and bridge. He loved spending time with his family and most especially with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of almost 44 years, Georgianna (Gina) Steffen; daughters, Jennifer Unser (Christian), and Meghan Stritz (Tim); grandchildren, Emma and Maya Williams, Gabriel and Hannah Unser, and Aidan Stritz; siblings, Ronald Steffen and Karen Weston. Leo was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Wallace, Lyle and Wilbur Steffen, Lois Briggs and Regina Russell.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Mayo Clinic for cancer research or to St. Francis of Assisi.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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