Frances D. Stegink

Frances Dorothy Stegink, 93, passed away after a short illness on November 13, 2013 at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City, Iowa. Prior to that she lived for several years at the Pioneer Home, a caring and loving community in Orange City. She was born December 1, 1919 in Esteline (Eureka Township), South Dakota to William and Dora (Visser) Kalsbeek. In 1929 she moved with her family to Orange City where she grew up and attended school. Later she moved to Oak Park, Illinois making her home with her Aunt, Emma Bos. While living in Oak Park, Fran was employed for three years as a nursing assistant at St. Luke's Hospital in downtown Chicago. After Pearl Harbor she returned to Orange City for a year to see her three brothers off to military service. While there she clerked in her father's grocery store before leaving for Denver, Colorado where she was employed at a defense plant. While in Denver she met her husband C.J. Stegink. They were married in 1944. C. J. was employed at Continental Airlines during the war as an electronics technician. In 1949 they moved to Orange City where C. J. operated a radio, TV and sound business. In addition to her responsibilities as a homemaker, Fran cared for elderly patients in her home for many years. This gave her the opportunity to be home with her children during their early years and to help with the care of her aging parents. Fran retired from K-products in 1987 after 10 years of employment. She was an active member of the American Reformed Church women's activities and taught Friendship Bible Classes for 8 years. Fran enjoyed many years of volunteer service during her retirement. Left to honor Fran and remember her are Fran's four children all of Ann Arbor, Michigan; Linda (Dale) Kiser, Robert (Alice) Stegink, Dorene (Kevin) Randolph and Lorene Stegink, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren, her three sister-in-laws; Florence, Winifred and Helen Kalsbeek, a brother in-law Robert Kovach, numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. Fran was preceded in death by her beloved husband, C.J., her brothers; Gerard, John and Art Kalsbeek, her sister Arlene Kovach and a son-in-law Dennis Morgan. Fran is remembered as one devoted to the care and welfare of others. A celebration of Fran's life will be held at 2:00 p.m Sunday, June 15, 2014 at the American Reformed Church at the time of the Kalsbeek Family Reunion in June of 2014. Memorials in her honor may be directed to the William and Dora Kalsbeek Christian Outreach Fund or Haiti Outreach Ministries for the purpose of nursing scholarships both in care of Northwestern State Bank in Orange City.