Funeral services for Irma C. Steele, of Albert Lea, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Mansfield Lutheran Church. The Rev. Donald Rose will officiate.

Interment will be in Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church.

Irma died on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, at St. John’s Lutheran Home. She was 99.

Irma was born on Dec. 7, 1913, in rural Alden, the daughter of Henry and Emma (Schmidt) Schmidt. Irma was baptized on Jan. 1, 1914, and later confirmed in 1927 at Mansfield Lutheran Church.

She was united in marriage to Melvin Steele on March 27, 1935, at Mansfield Lutheran Church. To this union five children were born Carroll, Janice, Richard, Myrna and Dennis.

They lived in and near Albert Lea until 1942, when Melvin and Irma took over the farming operation of Irma’s mother in Mansfield Township. It was there they lived and farmed until retiring in 1974 and moved to a farm near Conger, which Irma’s grandfather had settled on in 1882. Irma, lifelong member of Mansfield Lutheran Church, had been active in the WELCA, women’s Bible study, taught Sunday school and had also sung in the choir.

She had been active in the Conger Senior Citizens card group and the Neighborhood Birthday Club.

Irma’s greatest joy was loving her family. She also enjoyed reading, crocheting, gardening and tending to her flowers.

Irma is survived by her children Janice (Holland) Laak of Inver Grove Heights, Richard (Beverley) Steele of Alden and Myrna (Harold) Paulson of Georgetown, Texas; daughters-in-law Pat Steele of Albert Lea and Jo Steele of Acampo, Calif.; grandchildren Scott (Diane) Steele of Roseville, Calif., Kent (Chary) Steele of Pleasanton, Calif., Terry (JoAnn) Steele of San Jose, Calif., Mark (Sara) Venem of Eagle Lake, Todd (Julie) Venem of Lansing, Ill., Beth (James) Jacobs of South St. Paul, Douglas (Stacy) Steele of rural Alden, David (Kellie) Steele of Alden, Danelle (Dustin) Jacobs of rural Alden, Craig Paulson of Aitkin, Catherine Paulson of Atlanta, Ga., Shelley (Dean) Irish of Chatfield and Rodney (Sheila) Steele of Albert Lea; five step-grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren, eight step-great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; sister, Verona Boe; sister-in-law, Delores Steele; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin, in 2008; sons Dennis Steele and Carroll Steele; sisters Harriet Butenhoff and Linde Toenges; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Irma will fondly be remembered as the rock of the family. “Cookie Grandma” will be lovingly missed.