Steven Lynn Pierce, the son of Ralph Richard and Junellyn (Scheffler) Pierce, was born on March 31, 1947 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He passed away at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska on January 27, 2022, at the age of 74 years, 9 months, and 27 days.
Steven grew up on the family farm at Oakland, Iowa. He attended country school across the road from his home for several years and graduated from Oakland High School in 1965. During high school, he played football and was involving in wrestling and track and was even talked into singing in the choir. He attended and played football at the University of South Dakota for a year. He then attended C.E. School of Commerce in Omaha, Nebraska, where he met his future wife, Margaret (Marge) Ekstein. They were married September 28, 1968. Steve was a member of the Army Reserves for 6 years, based in Council Bluffs, and did his basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He farmed with his father and then on his own for over 50 years west of Oakland, raising corn, soybeans, cattle, and hogs.
Steve was very involved in his community, volunteering with several organizations. He was a 4-H leader, President of the Oakland School Board, President of the East Pottawattamie County Farm Bureau, President of the Oakland Optimist, and President of the Iowa Simmental Association. He was a member of the Pottawattamie County Planning and Development Committee, the Riverside Optimist Club, the East Pottawattamie County Extension Council, and was a Washington Township Trustee.
Steven enjoyed fishing and boating in Okoboji and following the many activities of his daughters and grandchildren. His favorite activity was announcing the high school football and basketball games, for 30 plus years, and was known as the “Voice of the Yellowjackets”, “Voice of the CMO Wolverines”, and the “Voice of the Riverside Bulldogs”. He also announced the East Pottawattamie County Fair Beef Show for many years. Outside of the Riverside Community, Steve enjoyed cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones and attended football games since 1998. He was honored in 2016 as the Oakland High School Alumni of the Year. In 2018, Steve and Marge were inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.
Steven was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents Sara and Arthur Pierce, grandparents Olga and Herman Scheffler, and brother-in-law Charles Ekstein of Loma, Nebraska. He is survived by his wife, Marge, his daughter Kris Roberts of St. Charles, Missouri, daughter Kerri Wede of Treynor, Iowa, grandchildren Sara (Maxwell) Farver of Ankeny, Iowa, Lydia Wede of Treynor, Iowa, Courtney Roberts of St. Charles, Missouri, and Zachary Roberts of St. Charles, Missouri, sister-in-laws Elizabeth (Richard) Kuncl of Lowell, Arkansas, Teresa Ekstein of Lincoln, Nebraska, Grace Campbell of Lawrence, Kansas, and brother-in-laws Francis (Joan) Ekstein of Ulysses, Nebraska, John (Joyce) Ekstein of Otoe, Nebraska, Joseph (Andrea) Ekstein of Dwight, Nebraska, his uncle Donald Scheffler of Oakland, Iowa, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 1:30 PM at Oaklawn Cemetery in Oakland. Open visitation will be at the funeral home in Oakland on Sunday, January 30, 2022 from 2-6 PM. The family will not be present at any specific time. A memorial fund is being established. Rieken Vieth Funeral Home in Oakland is in charge of arrangements.
