Deacon Dale Steffes

Deacon Dale William Steffes (May 2, 1933 – Aug. 29, 2026), lived a life knowing, loving, and serving the Lord. As a young man, he decided to make a DIFference, demonstrating determination, integrity and faith in all aspects of his life. Born at home to Marie (Dwyer) and William A. Steffes in Olpe, KS, Dale was the third of four children. (Gene, Don, Clarice). He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School, attended Emporia State College, served two years in the United States Army, and then graduated from Kansas State University with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business. He later received a Master’s Degree of Theology from The University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. Dale would be the first to tell you his greatest achievement was marrying his wife, Sandra Jean Juergens on Oct. 19, 1963, in Detroit, MI, and raising their five children, Julie, John, Jim, Joan, and Janice. Their first three children were born in Kansas City; their youngest daughters were born in Houston, TX. Life as a Kansas farm boy, milking cows, feeding livestock, delivering newspapers and milk, and working at his parents’ gas station - the first in Lyon County, KS - instilled a work ethic in Dale seldom seen these days. His professional career included building gas compressor stations in eastern Kansas and sales promotion/marketing in Kansas City for Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co., leading the Strategy and Corporate Planning Division of Panhandle Energy in Houston, TX, and serving as Principal and Founder of Planning & Forecasting Consultants, est. 1973, also in Houston. Dale and Sandy were active in building and growing the grassroots Republican Party in Harris County beginning in the late 1960s. He campaigned unsuccessfully but with great enthusiasm for Texas Railroad Commissioner, Texas State Representative, Mayor of Houston and Houston City Council. Dale even received votes for President of the United States in the 2016 election. In 1972, Dale was ordained a permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston, serving the parish of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in west Houston. This was the Diocese’s first Deaconate class. His life and the lives of countless others would never be the same. It is estimated over the last 54+ years Dale baptized well over 1000 babies, including all 15 of his grandchildren. He performed weddings, led wake services for the departed, and counseled individuals and couples. He assisted priests on the altar and gave homilies. He led weekly novenas and attended Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at 1 a.m. every Thursday morning for decades. Dale was a loyal member of the Knights of Columbus, serving multiple years as Grand Knight and Chaplain of the SJV chapter. He established Adoration at the K of C state convention whenever it was held in Houston and raised money for the tabernacle at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Deacon Dale is survived by his wife of 62 years 10 months, Sandy; his five children and their spouses, Julie and Dr. Rob Cowan, Caren and John Steffes, Marianna and Jim Steffes, Joan and Brian Robicheaux, and Janice and Jack McCoy; his grandchildren and their spouses, Mariah and Rob Cowan, Kristen and Will Cowan, Katie and Matt Wong, Lauren and Hayden Adair, Sarah and Will Miles, Grace Steffes, David Steffes, James Steffes, Justin and Hannah Bostick, Madeline and Connor Brooks, Emily and Eric Robicheaux, Emily Marie Robicheaux, Ella McCoy, and Benjamin McCoy; his great grandchildren Mark Adair, Patrick Adair, Brooks Bostick, Eleanor Brooks, Caroline Miles, and Whitney Cowan. He is also survived by sister and brother-in-law Clarice and Walt Dengel and many nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his parents Marie and Bill Steffes, his parents-in-law Margaret and Bill Juergens, his brothers and sister-in-law Gene Steffes and Jane and Don Steffes, his brother-in-law Bill Juergens, and his grandson Christian James Cowan. A wake service will be held from 6 – 8 pm on Tuesday, Sept. 1 with the rosary beginning at 7 pm. The funeral mass and reception will be held at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Both events are at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail. Memorial contributions can be made to Charity Guild of Catholic Women Children’s Charities Committee and to The Office of Vocations of the Galveston-Houston Arch Diocese.

Deacon Dale Steffes

May 2, 1933 - August 29, 2026