Shannon E. Steffen

Shannon E. Steffen, of Auburn, died Friday, July 13, 2018, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne.
Shannon was born March 18, 1950, in Malone, New York, a daughter of the late Lannes E. and Helen E. Tuttle. Shannon was a  beautician of cosmetology and owner of the Auburn Style Station for 28 years, retiring in 2017. She was a member of County Line Church of God and a former board member of the DeKalb Outdoor Theatre.
She is survived by her husband, Larry Steffen of Auburn; sons, Ian P. Higgins of Auburn and Nich R. Steffen of Fort Wayne; a daughter, Heather M. Michaelis of Auburn; grandchildren, Sarah M. Moreland, Daymian Hartman, Shiloh R. Higgins, Aaron C. McGarth, Caitlin V. Steffen and Jace L. D. Michaelis; great- grandchildren, Braydon J. Moreland and Zaydon K. Moreland; sisters, Maxine Martin of Auburn, Linda Teeter of Junction City, Kansas, Deborah Tuttle of Fort Wayne, Rebecca Baldwin of Seattle, Washington, and Patricia Oettinger of Fort Wayne; mother-in-law, Eileen Conrad of Auburn; and many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Victoria J. Steffen; a sister, Elaine C. Tuttle; and a father-in-law, John Conrad.Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 17, at noon with visitation two hours prior. Visitation will also be held Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Pinnington Funeral & Cremation Services, 502 N. Main St., Auburn.Rev. Steve Schlatter will be officiating. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Auburn.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society or Riley Hospital for Children.

Life Story of Shannon E. Steffen

While creating forever memories with those she loved, Shannon Steffen lived and loved completely at every opportunity. An amazing woman, she was the glue that held her family together and her strength of heart knew no bounds. Not only a strong woman, Shannon was protective of her family, and in all ways stood by their side. Always looking out for the needs of others, she gave unconditionally with a happy, caring heart. Gone but never to be forgotten, Shannon will be deeply missed.

Although conservative in nature, the decade of the 1950s sculpted the culture of America. Everything from music to movies, art and media to beloved comic strips and cartoons introduced households to a whole new way of life. With manufacturing and home construction on the rise, the economy boomed as the suburban dream was being realized. Amid these exciting times, the Korean War monopolized the news waves and clashes between communism and capitalism dominated the decade with the ever present threat of the Cold War. It was indeed a time of change as well as blessings, especially in the lives of Lannes E. and Helen E. Tuttle of Malone, New York when on March 18, 1950, they welcomed the birth of their little girl, Shannon into their arms.

Nestled in the upstate New York, close knit community of Malone is where Shannon was raised alongside her six sisters, Elaine, Maxine, Linda, Deborah, Rebecca, and Patricia. Her family made their home on a 2,100 acre dairy farm and needless to say, she and her sisters had plenty of chores when not in school. They did, however, have their share of adventure too, like the time Shannon and two of her sisters got caught by their father having heavy equipment races in the gravel pit near their home . . . and he wasn’t too happy, either! While Shannon’s father ran the farm, her mother remained at home as a homemaker and tended to their large, bustling household.

Having attended the local schools, Shannon soon found herself expecting a baby to love as her own, and that she did. Since her sister, Maxine had moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana, Shannon and her son spent some time visiting her sister. After much thought and contemplation, Shannon decided that she and Ian would move to Fort Wayne, as well. She became a beautician of cosmetology at a young age after high school and shortly after moving to Indiana she landed an assistant manager position with Pizza Hut.

Shannon never imagined just how much her life was about to change when she met Larry Steffen one night at Dan’s Restaurant in Waterloo, Indiana. It didn’t take long before they began dating and fell deeply in love. On August 2, 1984, Shannon and Larry were joined in marriage at the DeKalb County courthouse. Larry took on Shannon’s son, Ian as his own and with her loving, natural demeanor Shannon quickly became known as mom to Larry’s three young children, Victoria, Nick, and Heather.

As a family treasured times were shared making memories during the holidays and other special occasions. Along with their love of camping, they also took trips to Tennessee and traveling to upstate New York to visit family. While camping, Shannon loved nothing more than watching those she loved enjoy themselves and making memories along the way. When the kids swam, she was right there on the sidelines watching them as she never had the opportunity to learn how. When grandchildren came along, Shannon was in her element. She loved being surrounded by those who meant the most to her.

For 28 years, Shannon owned and operated the Auburn Style Station until retiring in 2017. Faith was a large part of Shannon’s heart and she was a devoted member of County Line Church of God. Another way Shannon enjoyed getting involved was serving as a board member for the DeKalb Outdoor Theatre which she did for a time. Aside from her family, Shannon’s love of gardening was evident as she lovingly tended to her 13 flower gardens which brought her much joy and solace. Shannon was a happy, spunky woman whose friendly nature easily drew others to her side. She was protective of her family, and counted them as her greatest blessing. While Shannon leaves countless memories for those who came to know and love her to behold, nothing will ever replace seeing the beautiful smile on her face or the twinkle in her eyes. Deeply missed, Shannon’s love remains in the hearts of those she leaves behind.

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