Stephen L Pesek

Stephen “Louie” Pesek, age 73, of New Hampton, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, surrounded by his family after a long and courageous five-year battle with kidney disease.

A memorial service will be held 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2026 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton.  A Celebration of Life will follow the service at the funeral home.  Private family interment will take place at a later date.

Stephen Louis Pesek was born on December 27, 1952, in Cresco, Iowa, to Robert and Genevieve Pesek. He attended Cresco Schools where he would later graduate. Following graduation, Steve briefly pursued entrepreneurship before beginning a long and dedicated career at John Deere, where he worked for 40 years prior to his retirement.

Steve was united in marriage to Deborah (Mihm) Pesek on March 30, 1974 at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. Together, they built a life centered on love, family, and shared experiences.

Steve faced his long battle with kidney disease with grit and determination. He endured countless dialysis treatments, unexpected trips to the emergency room, and heart complications. Despite these challenges, Steve maintained his infectious smile, competitive spirit, and unwavering determination. He viewed his illness as part of his journey—another obstacle placed before him—and faced it head-on.

Steve had a deep love for the game of golf and often spoke about getting back on the course for another round. While that goal remained just out of reach, he continued to find joy in life. He loved watching his grandchildren participate in sports and cherished time spent camping and boating with family and friends. He was always up for a mean game of cribbage or cards with family or friends. You would often find him riding around on his John Deere Lawnmower even if the lawn didn’t need a mow. Steve was also a devoted fan of the Green Bay Packers and cheered them on proudly.

Steve was a devoted husband, father, brother, father-in-law, brother-in-law, grandfather, uncle, and dog lover. He was the kind of man who would do anything for those he loved.

He is survived by his wife, Deborah (Mihm) Pesek of New Hampton, Iowa; his children, Jeremy (Michelle) Pesek of Fort Wayne, Indiana (grandson, Cole), Jamey (Tara) Pesek of New Hampton, Iowa (grandchildren, Hunter and Hailee), and Joshua (Katie) Pesek of Fairfax, Iowa (grandchildren, Kyler and Aubrynn); his brother, Gerry (Marla) Pesek of Runnells, Iowa; his sisters, Jean Bina-McNally of Forest City, Iowa, and Julie (Ed) Shimek of Spillville, Iowa; his brothers-in-law, Al Thornton of Decorah, Iowa, Gary (Janice) Mihm of West Union, Iowa, Billy Mihm of St. Lucas, Iowa, and Jim (Kris) Cayton of LaPorte City, Iowa; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Genevieve (Balik) Pesek; his father-in-law, Marinus Mihm; his mother-in-law, Margaret (Mitchell) Mihm; his sisters-in-law, Jacque (Mihm) Cayton, Jolene (Mihm) Galligan, and Tammy (Mihm) Thornton; and his brothers-in-law, Andy Bina and Bill Galligan.

Steve had an unwavering ability to bring his family together. He was a steady presence—someone others could turn to for guidance or simply a good laugh. His absence will be deeply felt for years to come, but his impact and memories will live on in all who knew him.

We love you, “Louie,” and thank you for all the wonderful memories.