William 'Bill' C. Steaffens

William C. Bill' Steaffens, age 83, passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2009 at Skaalen Home in Stoughton.   He was born in Berlin, WI on May 20, 1926, a son of Harvey Raymond and Mary Elizabeth (Temme) Steaffens.   Bill served his country in the Navy in the Pacific Theater in WWII, and in the Aleutians during the Korean Conflict.   In between the two, he met Patricia Jenkins.   After Bill's discharge from the Navy, they were wed in Chicago on June 14, 1952.   Bill worked for 34 years as a gas construction engineer for Wisconsin Power and Light in Portage, Fond du Lac, and Madison.   Bill was a Past Master of the Kegonsa Masonic Lodge # 73, and served in many other offices there, including Secretary / Treasurer for 15 / 16 years.   He was a Past Patron of the Venus Chapter #61 of Eastern Star, served on the Stoughton Housing Authority for almost 25 years, and was Scout Master of Troop 12 (712) in Fond du Lac for 19 years.   Bill was awarded the Silver Beaver for service to the Boy Scouts, led National Jamboree Troops to Valley Forge in 1964, Idaho in 1969, and Ohio in 1973, and received various other Scouting awards.  Bill was a member of Stoughton United Methodist Church.   He was also a member of the Four Lakes Amateur Radio Club, and his call sign was N9GTB.   He is survived by his wife, Pat; daughter, Debra Anne Steaffens; son, Jeffrey William (Trinice) Steaffens; daughter, Susan (Ralph Rennert) Steaffens; 2 grandchildren, Sarah (Anthony) Nuccio and Matthew Steaffens; 2 great grandchildren, Michael and Abigail Nuccio; a sister, Suzanne Rae Christenson; and by his nephews.   He was preceded in death by his parents, and by an infant son, Gregory Raymond Steaffens.   A visitation will be held at the Olson-Holzhuter-Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton on Monday January 4, 2010 from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm, followed by Masonic and Eastern Star services at 7:00 pm.   A memorial service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 11:00 am, with the Rev. Marianne Gallagher and Rev. Clyde Cross co-officiating.   The family will greet friends on Tuesday from 10:00 am until the time of the service.   Burial will take place at Berlin Cemetery at a later date.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare and to the Boy Scouts of America.