Alan Steinlage

Alan John Steinlage age 73 Of Ionia, IA passed on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at the Iowa City VA Health Care System surrounded by family and friends. Friends may greet the family from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.on Thursday, December 19th at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home and Crematory in New Hampton, IA where there will be a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service. A Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 20, 2019, at St. Luke's Catholic Church in St. Lucas, IA. Alan John was born February 25, 1946, to Al and Anne (Neusch) Steinlage in West Union, IA the third of eight children - seven beloved boys and the youngest a girl being Alan's favorite sister. Alan would always say, "I'm so happy my parents named me Alan, you know why - cause that's what everybody calls me!" Alan grew up on the family dairy farm just south of St. Lucas, IA. where he learned the value of hard work, love of family and began to develop his great faith. Alan attended St. Luke School, St. Lucas, IA graduating with 19 classmates in 1964. He is known for his fondness of the game and skill at pitching baseball. He loved his classmates as an extended family. Alan enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965 training as a flight engineer and crew chief on a twin-engine C-7A Caribou transport plane. He served three tours in Vietnam completing more than 1100 flying hours. His plane took on plenty of enemy fire while they hauled ammunition, food, bodies, Jeeps, enemy soldiers, and much more even including cows. He said his plane "probably had more holes than any...I just had a knack for drawing incoming." After discharge, Alan attended Upper Iowa College in Fayette, IA and farmed with his brothers. On Jan. 27, 1973 he married Kathleen Robinson and the couple welcomed two children Brent and Brian. The couple later divorced, remaining friends. Alan's two boys were his lifelong pride and joy. Alan went to work at AO Smith Harvestore's dealership - Skyline Harvestore in Nashua, IA as Vice-President and Operations Manager for seventeen years. Co-owner of the dealership Merle Lockwood and Alan remained close personal friends after the dealership was sold to Maust and Sons of Preston, MN. Alan worked for Maust until 1989. Alan, aka Wook, married his soulmate Sandra Sue (Pattschull) Kraft, aka Wookie, on February 20, 1993. In the early years of blending their families as well as starting and developing three businesses - Applied Bonding Company, Inc., Blue Structure Service, Midwest Surface Prep., Inc. was not without its challenges. All three companies were eventually sold to the employees. And by God's grace, we are a happy loving family. Alan adores his family, everyone! Hugs and wrestling around with the grandkids, attending activities and games, sharing his love of nature and the outdoors at home on their acreage named "Dog Run", that was the best. Al was a lifetime member of the Ralph W. Nicholson VFW Post 6792, Nashua, IA, the C-7A Caribou Association, Board member of the Neighborhood Safety Committee, an American Red Cross award-winning blood donor, an avid supporter of St. Jude's, member of Immaculate Conception Church in Charles City, IA and a member by association of St. John Lutheran Church, Nashua, Iowa. (Alan considered himself a freelance Christian embracing all faiths that believed in Jesus Christ as Savior). Alan is remembered as a straight-shooter with a full-throttle lifestyle, love of God, family, friends, and country. No one has ever met a harder worker. He used his welding skills to engineer, repair and improve equipment. Loved to hunt. Loved his yellow labs, Brandy, Beau, Dot, Queen. His quick wit and sarcastic endless sense of humor going into great detail to pull pranks. Alan enjoyed reading anything from a matchbook cover to speed reading a novel. Coffee..."I get the shakes after 15 cups, maybe I should drink a few more." In Sept. of 2018, after many years of participating in a Veterans Administration study on the effects of Agent Orange, being in excellent health, he was diagnosed with Stage IV Squamous Cell Lung Cancer, testing 100% AO positive, that had spread. During his 15 month battle, he experienced many miraculous healings attested to by his beloved Iowa City VA and University of Iowa doctors. Alan's statement of faith during his battle was, "If I stay longer or get to go home sooner it's all good." He said his last miraculous healing would be going home to Jesus. Alan deeded his body to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. When Alan needed to rest, he would say to visitors, "How can I miss you if you won't leave." Now he says, "How can you miss me if I don't leave! "XOXOXOXOXOX "See you soon then!" Alan is survived by his wife Sandi of Ionia, IA; three sons, Brent (Erica) Steinlage of New Hampton, IA, Brian (Rachel) Steinlage of Cedar Falls, IA, Klinton (Megan Strickland) Kraft of Atlanta, GA, Jennifer Kraft of Loganville, GA; one daughter Rachael (John) Moore of Nashua, IA; ten grandchildren, Ashley, Courtney, Mackenzie, Morgan, Max, Ethan, Carter, Paige, Abbie, Carlee; two great-grandchildren, Kolton and Penelope; six brothers, Carl(Dianne) Steinlage of West Union, IA, Raymond (Marie) Steinlage of Worthington, IA, Joseph (Jolene) Steinlage of St.Lucas, IA, Ralph (Cathy) Steinlage of Lawler, IA, Cyril (Pam Glandorf) Steinlage of West Union, IA, John (Sheila) Steinlage of St. Peters, MO; one sister Mary (Marvin) Shippy of Hawkeye, IA; Father-in-law Dean Pattschull of New Hampton, IA; three brothers-in-law Steven(Teresa) Pattschull of Nashua, IA, Danny(Carrie) Pattschull of Charles City, IA, Bill Vereschagin of Mariposa, CA; one sponsored son Julian Navarez of Bogota, Colombia; many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law Doug Fedeler; sisters-in-law Karen Steinlage, Dorothy Pattschull, and Dianne Vereschagin