Anne Steffens

Anne Steffens was a woman whose beauty was so much more than skin deep. She was a caring, compassionate woman who had the gift to quietly inspire all who knew her. Anne was a loving wife, aunt, sister, friend, and a woman who was dear to and loved by so many people.

Anne's story began in 1913 on a hot summer day in the windy city of Chicago, Illinois during times of great change in this country. This was the year Woodrow Wilson became president, Federal Income Tax was created, and a terrible storm blew through the Great Lakes, taking 250 lives with it. Yet on August 14, 1913, Henry and Jennie (Van der Warf) Dorn found a reason to celebrate with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Anne Marie.

Anne was the first of the couple's five children. She was later joined in the family by her younger siblings Henry, Harold, June, and baby brother Oliver. Anne loved her brothers and sister deeply, and remained close to them and to their families throughout her life.

She spent most of her youth in the big city of Chicago. In 1927, when Anne was fourteen years old, her parents decided to move the family to the sandy shores of Holland, Michigan. Holland was already a familiar place to Anne. Her grandfather owned a hardware store there and Anne's parents had taken their children on trips to see their grandparents over the years. Anne enjoyed living in Holland and attended Holland High School. After she graduated, she took a job as a personal secretary to John F. Donnelly. With her professional life in place, little did Anne know her personal life was about to bloom.

One fine day in the late 1930s, a handsome young man named Leonard Steffens spotted Anne, and it was love at first sight for him. Leonard was a Hope College graduate who had been a star on the Flying Dutchmen basketball team and president of his fraternity. After some encouragement from his cousins, the "Geerds Girls," he summoned the courage to introduce himself to the ravishing young Anne. To Leonard's amazement, Anne said yes, and the two quickly began dating. It wasn't long before they had fallen in love, and the happy couple was married on April 26, 1940, marking the beginning of a beautiful and long life together.

Anne and her new husband worked at his family business, Steffens Food Market, which was started by Leonard's father, Ben Steffens. Leonard and Anne bought the business in 1945, which freed Leonard's dad to pursue his political ambitions. He went on to serve as the Mayor of Holland from 1946 until his death in 1948.

Anne and Leonard's food market became an intregal part of the Holland community. For over 30 years, they worked together to ensure the customers at their store had the freshest food and best service in town. They developed close relationships with their customers, and the market provided a great life for them.

Anne and Leonard loved spending their sumnmer leisure time at "The Wizard" cottage in Macatawa Park they shared with Leonard's sister Dorothy and her husband Howard, and Leonard's sister Ella. Dorothy and Howard's three children, Deanna, Judy, and Ben, also spent their summers at the cottage, and Anne loved them deeply. Anne enjoyed spending weekends out at the cottage with family and friends on the beach during the days, enjoying the breeze on the cottage porch, and playing cards at night.

Anne enjoyed many activities including golf, walking, playing cards, and bowling. She was a good bowler and was a member of a bowling league with her sister in-law, Dorothy, for many years. Anne also supported Leonard and his interests, from helping him in the garden to attending Hope College basketball games with him (and listening to all of his college stories, too!). A common faith was something they shared as well. Anne and Leonard were active members of the Fourth Reformed Church of Holland, where they worshiped and made many good friends over the years. Anne and Leonard had no children of their own, but they were very close to their extended family, and she enjoyed doting on her nieces and nephews. Anne loved having the family together, playing board games, or going for Sunday drives to Saugatuck.

Anne loved to entertain. She was regarded by many as a wonderful cook, and will always be remembered for her fried shrimp dinners. Her steaks were also out of this world! Out at The Wizard in the summers, Anne and Dorothy would prepare extravagant meals for Dorothy and Howard's children and eventually their grandchildren. Much effort and love went into the preparation of those dinners and they will always be remembered and appreciated.

Anne and Leonard sold the business in 1977, having enjoyed a successful career for more than 30 years. They were one of the few grocers left in the state that still made home deliveries! They enjoyed their well-deserved retirement very much, and enjoyed spending time together at the cottage or caring for their great-nieces and nephews.

Eventually, the years wore on, and their health declined, and Anne lost her beloved Leonard in 2005. She moved to Appledorn Living Center, where she would remain the rest of her days. Sadly, Anne died on Thursday, August 21, 2008, at the age of 95.

Anne was such an extraordinary woman, who was blessed with a long and full life. She was a loving and deeply caring wife, aunt, sister, and friend. Anne was a woman known for her beauty, but beloved for her heart, a heart she shared with all who knew her. She touched many lives and will be greatly missed.

In addition to Leonard, Anne was preceded in death by her brothers Henry and Harold (Curly) Dorn, and sister June Vander Kolk.

Her family includes: her brother Oliver and Alma Dorn, sisters-in-law Evelyn Dorn and Dorothy Phillips; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, August 25, 2008 at The Mulder Chapel Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, 188 West 32nd Street in Holland, MI.

Visiting will be from 1:00 -2:00 p.m. Monday, August 25 at The Mulder Chapel.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Holland and Fourth Reformed Church of Holland, MI. To share a memory or photo of Anne, or to sign the online guestbook, please visit her Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com.