Fern Mardelle Steinkraus (Plainview)

Fern Mardelle Steinkraus
Services for Fern Steinkraus, 93, of Plainview, Nebraska will be 10:30 on Friday, November 21, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Plainview, Nebraska. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Plainview. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the United Methodist Church. She died Monday, November 17, 2014 at the Plainview Manor. Ashburn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Fern Mardelle (Munger) Steinkraus was born September 25, 1921 to Vernon L. and Marcia E. (Pike) Munger in Pierce County (Plainview, Nebraska). She was baptized at the Crawford Valley Methodist Church. Fern graduated from Plainview High School in 1939. She attended business school in Omaha and worked for Dr. McQuitty in Omaha, Ne. Fern later worked for the US War Department in Chicago, Illinois.

She was united in marriage with Alfred H. Steinkraus at Gross Park Methodist Church in Chicago, Illinois on August 23, 1942. To this union were born three children, Carol Jean (Steinkraus) Wacker, Alfred Reid Steinkraus and Wendy Beth (Steinkraus) Clayton.


Fern was active as a Girl Scout leader in Plainview for 19 years while both of her daughters were active as Girl Scouts. Fern taught Sunday School at the United Methodist Church in Plainview for 25 years. Fern was a charter member of the Klick and Klatter Club. She was active in the Adult Fellowship, Adult Sunday School class and the United Methodist Women in Plainview. Fern was involved in organizing and conducting the annual Grandmother’s Party. She volunteered at the flower pavilion at the Pierce County Fair for many years and was inducted into the Pierce County Fair Hall of Fame for her years of service. Her passion was bowling at the Plainview Lanes for many years on a women’s bowling league. Fern also volunteered at the Plainview Klown Doll Museum.

Fern’s neighbors and friends were an important part of her life. They spent many hours sitting on the porch, playing cards and going out for a hamburger. She loved taking care of her flowers and plants at her home. Fern enjoyed spending as much time as possible with her grandchildren. No matter how she felt, they always brought a smile to her face.


Fern is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Alfred “Al” Steinkraus,her sisters, Phyllis (Munger) Freed, Beth (Munger) Culbertson, Laura “Evelyn” (Munger) Steinkraus, granddaughter, Katie Anne Steinkraus, and great grandson, Carson Findley.

Fern is survived by her children, Carol (Steinkraus) Wacker and husband Dan of Fresno, California, Reid Steinkraus and wife Lori of Omaha, Nebraska, Wendy (Steinkraus) Clayton and husband Pat of Norfolk, Nebraska. She is also survived by her grandchildren Tony Wacker, Brittany and Scott Findley, Breanna Clayton, MacKenzie Clayton, Abbey Clayton, Connor Clayton, Kara and Chris Goodrich,
Tim Steinkraus, and Jenny and Rob Biodroski. Her great grandchildren are Cody Findley, Mikayla Findley, Brayden Goodrich and Ayla Biodroski.