Deo G. Steffen

Deo G. Steffen, 96, a retired teacher and school administrator in New Philadelphia, died early Saturday morning, June 5, 2004, at Park Village Health Care Center in Dover.Born September 16, 1907, in Ohio, he was a son of the late William and Caroline (Sellman) Steffen. He was a 1926 graduate of Greenville High School and continued his education at Bliss College, Cincinnati University, and Kent State University. Upon graduation, he received a Bachelors of Science degree in Education and Master’s degrees.He taught two years in Waverly, Ohio, before beginning his career at New Philadelphia Schools in 1931. He taught in the New Philadelphia Schools and served his last sixteen years as Assistant Superintendent. He retired in 1973 after 42 years of service in the education system. He was a member of the county, state, and national Teachers Association.At the age of 36, Deo was drafted into the Army and served for two years, having been stationed in the U. S., Hawaii, Saipan, and Iwo Jima in World War II. Deo was Lutheran by faith, and attended the First Christian Church in New Philadelphia after his marriage to Sara Louise Gilgen in 1935, for more than 60 years. Deo was a life member of both Masonic and Elks Lodges. He was also a member of the Ancient Scottish Rite, Tadmor and Tuscarawas County Shrine Clubs, and a member and past-president of the New Philadelphia Rotary Club since 1950. His love for nature and the community was seen by his membership in the New Philadelphia Garden Club, the Tuscarawas County Historical Society, and the Wilderness Center.Deo is survived by five nieces, Janice (Paul) Minnich of Florida, Marilyn (John) Merkle of Tennessee, Ann Bradley of North Carolina, Doris (Ben) Miller of Michigan, and Martha Kober of Renyoldsburg, Ohio; four nephews, Robert (Marilyn) Steffen of Cincinnati, Walter (Marty) Steffen of Tennessee, Fritz (Brooke) Gilgen of New Philadelphia, and John (Linda) Gilgen of South Carolina; special friends, Dorothy and Bob Ress and family; numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, great-great-nieces, and great-great-nephews, and a wealth of friends.In addition to his wife who died in 1982, and his parents, Deo was preceded in death by five brothers, Clarence, Ed, Walt, Alvin, and an infant brother.Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 8, 2004, from 5 Â? 8 p.m. in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home. The New Philadelphia Elks will conduct a service beginning at 4:45 p.m. and the New Philadelphia Masonic Lodge will conduct a service immediately following visitation at 8:00 p.m.. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday in the funeral home’s chapel at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Jim Borton officiating. Burial will follow at East Avenue Cemetery in New Philadelphia. Following the committal service, friends and family are invited to the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home, where a reception will be held.Deo requested that memorial contributions be made to either the First Christian Church, 104 3rd St. NW, PO Box 474 New Philadelphia, OH 44663, or New Philadelphia Rotary Club, PO Box 331, New Philadelphia, OH 44663.