James "Jim" Harold Steuck

James “Jim” Harold Steuck, age 81, of Lake Crystal, died Friday, January 9, 2026 at Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center in Mankato.

Funeral service will be held at 11am, Thursday, January 15, 2026 at Mankato Mortuary (1001 N. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN 56001) with visitation one hour prior. Burial and full military honors will be provided at 10am, Friday, January 16, 2026 at the MN State Veterans Cemetery in Preston. Please share a memory of Jim with his family and watch his service livestreamed at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Jim was born prematurely on June 20, 1944 in Pipestone, Minnesota to Harold and Ruby (DeMunck) Steuck. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Pipestone, and grew up on a dairy farm with his mother, father, three brothers, and three sisters. Jim started school at a one-room country schoolhouse, then went into Pipestone town school for seventh grade before graduating in 1962.

He worked on the family farm for one year so his family could pay for his college. He attended his first year of college at the Indiana Institute of Technology where he was a member of the Newman Club. Jim later transferred to Mankato State University.

On June 26, 1967, he joined the Army. After basic training, he went to California for language school. Then he was stationed in Germany until 1971, specializing in voice interception. He attained rank of E-5 with a top secret / cryptic clearance.

After being honorably discharged, Jim returned to Mankato State where he graduated with degrees in accounting, math, and agricultural economics.

He was introduced to his wife, Beverly Steuck, in Gage Tower B, and they married on March 16, 1974.

He started work in 1975 at Lake Crystal Co-op as an accountant where he worked until 1999 when his health prevented him from working.

In 1982, his first son, Mathew, was born, and then his second son, Michael, was born in 1985. He loved and adored both of them as they grew up. In 1988, James and Beverly built a house in Lake Crystal.

Jim loved gardening, whether it was a small garden on a rental property or landscaping his home’s yard. He loved music and collecting vinyl records and stuffed tigers. He would listen for hours to music of all types. This was some of the best medicine when he went through difficulties with his health, including open-heart surgery and a kidney transplant in 2003.

He lived a good life after his transplant, seeing his son marry and welcoming two granddaughters to the world. He always smiled when you said their names.

Due to his health, he moved to Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center in May 2024 until his death.

Jim is survived by his wife, Beverly Steuck; sons, Mathew (Erin Forsythe) Steuck and Michael Steuck; granddaughters, Marit and Ingrid Steuck; siblings, Robert (Carol) Steuck, Shirley (Robert) Walraven, Tim Steuck, Bill (Judy) Steuck, Sharleen (Mike) Ludolph, and Suzanne Steuck; in-laws, Sandra (Mike) Nelson and Pam Howden; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Milo and Helen Hyland; and nephew, Ryan Steuck

The family wishes to thank Mayo Clinic staff in Mankato and Rochester, and the staff at Oaklawn (especially nurse Karen)

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Mortuary.
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