Phyllis Frances Stepanek

Phyllis F. Stepanek, 92, of St. Paul, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, at Brookefield Park in St. Paul.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Vince Parsons will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church, with a 6 p.m. parish rosary.

Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation.

Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is assisting the family.

Phyllis was born on Aug. 4, 1932, on the family farm near Boelus, the daughter of Harry and Sophia (Weiss) Bremer. She was the youngest of the three girls in her family.

She attended Howard County rural school District No. 25 through the eighth grade. She then attended Boelus Public High School for the next four years, graduating in 1950. Upon graduating she worked for her parents on the family farm until 1957, when she moved to St. Paul to seek employment there.

She was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith in Rockville, NE.

She was united in marriage to Alfred L. Stepanek on Aug. 23, 1958, in Grand Island. They had two daughters, Renee and Rochelle. The family lived on a farm north of St. Paul. She worked along side Alfred on the farm, their entire married life. Phyllis was such a hard worker and was very proud of her farm life. She milked cows for over 30 years. The cows all knew her by their names. She did all the bookkeeping for the farm and at the time of her death was still managing the farm. She enjoyed gardening and canning her produce. She also loved to cook and bake. Her specialties were kolaches, cinnamon rolls and pies. She collected numerous cookbooks, over the years. She catered for many weddings, anniversaries, banquets and even a farm sale.

Alfred passed away on Nov. 30, 1980. Phyllis continued to farm with the help of her son-in-law, Myron. She was featured in many newspapers and on TV for farming during the 1980’s farm crisis. 

Over the years she worked as a waitress at The Uptown Grill, The Whale Café, and Fonner Park Café. She was a cashier at the Shortstop Convenience Store and Hometown Market. She cooked at Matelyn Retirement Community for 16 years.

She was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and its Council of Catholic Women. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister and was wedding food chairwoman for many years. She was a lifetime member of the Carl Mogensen American Legion Auxiliary Unit 119 of St. Paul. She was a longtime 4-H leader and was the Horticulture Superintendent at the Howard County Fair for many years. Phyllis was a recipient of the Friend of 4-H award and was a two-time Grand Champion of the Kolache Shoot-Out in Elba. One of the highlights of her life was being named a runner-up in 1988 for “Ag Woman of the Year”.

She enjoyed listening to polka music. She loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attended all their activities.

The past year she resided at Brookefield Park.

She is survived by her two daughters, Renee Nesiba and Rochelle “Shelley” Stepanek, both of St. Paul; four grandchildren, Ali Rasmussen of Elkhorn, Jenny and Matt Van Moorleghem of Ashland, Justine and Blake Bollwitt of O’Neill and Alex and Zoe Stepanek of Lincoln; and 10 great-grandchildren and her 2 beloved dogs.

In addition to her husband, Alfred, she was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Myron Nesiba; sister and brother-in-law, Fern and Val Cyboron and infant sister, Evelyn Bremer.