Services
Obituary
Margaret J. Steenblock, 78, of Belmond, passed away on Thursday, August 28, 2025, at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 2, 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 304 3rdAvenue Northeast in Belmond, with Pastor Katie Pals officiating. Burial will be in the Amsterdam Cemetery in Goodell.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM- 7:00 PM on Monday, September 1, 2025, at Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane South in Belmond.
Margaret Jane was born on September 4, 1946, in St. Paul, Minnesota, to Grover and Naomi (Vye) Downs. Margaret’s family moved to Belmond, where her mother operated the local Texico Station.
Margaret graduated from Belmond High School and worked at the Texico Station until it was destroyed by the 1966 tornado. On April 29, 1967, she was united in marriage to Jerry Steenblock at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Belmond. The Navy took Jerry and Margaret to San Francisco and San Diego before they returned to Belmond to raise their family.
Margaret was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed staying home with her children when they were young during the summers. Margaret worked at Coast-to-Coast Hardware Store in Belmond and later, she and Jerry operated the Rowan Café. Margaret eventually retired from Metalcraft.
Margaret enjoyed bowling and was proud to be part of a state championship team. She also loved playing cards, especially cribbage, and her competitive spirit always showed — she played to win! Margaret and Jerry loved spending time at their place at Big Sandy Lake in Minnesota, and especially loved being at Pelican Lake, where they enjoyed fishing, camping, and creating cherished family memories. Family was at the heart of Margaret’s life. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren, who meant the world to her.
Margaret is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jerry Steenblock of Belmond; children Tina (Jay) DePuew of Belmond and Scot (Rhonda) Steenblock of Chatfield, Minnesota; grandchildren Halie (Colton) Kuhlers, Andrea (Taylor) Boettcher, Brandon DePuew (Kassidy State), Jessica Steenblock (Chandler Brown), and Kara DePuew; great-grandchildren Paisley Boettcher, Brooklyn Boettcher, Hardin Boettcher, Coetta Kuhlers, plus one on the way; sisters-in-law Bev Downs and Mary Downs; siblings Kathy (Neil) Gabrielson and Chuck (Stephanie) Downs; Jerry’s sister Beth (Lyle) Bartell; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Grover and Naomi; her step-father Delbert Plath; Jerry’s parents Rich and Rhea; siblings Anita (Howard) Trostem, Tim Downs, and Tom Downs; and special family friend Lowell Hoke.