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Grace Caroline Steenrod, 91, of Jackson Center, was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on Nov. 4, 2016. She peacefully departed this world at her home outside Jackson Center.
Grace was born Jan. 31, 1925, at her parents’ farm home outside Jackson Center. She was the only child of Fred Metz and Alma Prieser Metz. She was raised on her family farm and attended Jackson Center School where she graduated valedictorian of the class of 1943. Grace started work at the local bank in Jackson Center, then worked for the JC Farm Bureau where she met her husband, John Steenrod. They married in September 1945 and moved to Columbus where Grace worked at the Bureau of Unemployment Compensation.
Upon returning to Jackson Center, Grace was a loving housewife and wonderful mother and then worked as a secretary for her husband for 15 years in the insurance business. Grace was a member of a local Farm Bureau Council which was the longest active council in Ohio. She was an excellent seamstress and an enthusiastic pianist. Grace was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
She began volunteer work with Wilson Hospice/Home Health and Wilson Memorial Hospital after her husband’s death in 1987. She “retired” from her volunteer role at the age of 90 after volunteering more than 25,000 hours for the organizations. She was a devoted Christian, a lifelong faithful servant of Christ and member of Grace Lutheran Church, where she served as treasurer, pianist/organist, Circle 2 member and volunteer as she truly loved Christ and lived for Him.
Grace was well-known for her faithful dedication to her volunteer work at Wilson Memorial/Wilson Hospice and enjoyed her daily lunches with her fellow “pink jacket ladies.” She spent countless hours visiting old friends, classmates and relatives. She also loved mowing yard on her farm with her John Deere tractor for hours at a time and was even mowing as recently as this fall at the age of 91. She worked daily to keep her parents’ farm groomed and beautiful.
She is survived by her children, Bonnie Kaufman of Jackson Center, Fred (Kathy) Steenrod of Centerville, Mary Jane (Richard) Wildermuth of Lewistown and Beverly (Kerry) Weiss of Marysville; grandchildren, Jennifer Kaufman, Andy Wildermuth, Ben Kaufman, Kim Wildermuth, Laura (Adam) Hinkebein, Marci (Cameron) Coomer, Katelyn (Matthew) Robinson and Ashley Weiss; 10 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and close friends.
Visitation is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, at Grace Lutheran Church, Jackson Center, with Pastors Kent Hollis and Philip Chilcote officiating the funeral service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with an additional visitation an hour prior to the service. Burial is in Glen Cemetery, Port Jefferson.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 607 S. Main St., Jackson Center, Ohio 45334; Wilson Hospice, 1083 Fairington Drive, Sidney, OH 45365; or a charity of the donor’s choice.
The Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home, Jackson Center, is handling the arrangements and online condolences may be expressed at www.edsfh.com.