Cornelius Charles Steffl

Cornelius C. Steffl, 97, of Sleepy Eye died Sunday, September 20, 2015 at his farm south of Sleepy Eye. Cornelius was born June 16, 1918 in Sleepy Eye to John and Alma (Hartnick) Steffl. He attended country school and was united in marriage on September 1, 1941 to Mildred Lucille McWilliams in Sleepy Eye. He was a lifetime member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Love of God, family, working on the family farm, his country, playing cards and fishing were his priorities. He taught his children the value of work and education. He was unable to attend high school as he was expected to do arduous and strenuous work shocking large grain fields, picking sweet corn and field corn by hand, pitching hay, chopping and sawing wood, milking cows, farrowing hogs and cleaning barns all without electricity. He walked hundreds of miles behind horses planting, cultivating and harvesting using horse drawn farm equipment. This was true manual labor. Started farming on his own, married Lucille and they rented a farm east of Sleepy Eye, until their house burned down. They moved to the present farm where he raised cattle, hogs, chickens. He also grew oats and hay, field corn, soybeans, sweet corn and peas for Del Monte. Cornelius is survived by his children Pat Steffl, Kathy Robinson, Neil (Nancy) Steffl and Tim Steffl; eleven grandchildren; twenty one great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; Siblings Jerome (Ruth) Steffl, Monica Hertling and Phyllis Garry; and sister-in-law Mary Steffl. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mildred Lucille Steffl; brothers Paul Steffl, Leslie Steffl, Louis Steffl, John L. Steffl; sisters, Beatrice (Edward) Ganske, Bernice (Norbert) Zechztzche; brother-in-laws, Sylvester Hertling and Richard Garry. Visitation 1 9:00 am - 11:00 am Thursday, September 24, 2015 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Service Information 11:00 am Thursday, September 24, 2015 St. Mary's Catholic Church-Sleepy Eye 636 1st Ave. North Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085 Interment Information St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery 720 3rd Ave. N.E. Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, United States 56085