Ida M. Steeg (nee Manske), 89, of La Grange and a longtime former resident of Forest Park, died on Sept. 18, 2018. Born on April 23, 1929 in a German colony in Poland on her parent’s wheat farm, she was the oldest of three children. Smart, beautiful, and athletic, she and her siblings enjoyed school, sports, playing in the family orchards, and listening to scary, old-wives tales as told by their farm workers. War forced their evacuation by covered wagon to Germany, a country they had never seen. Her father had been drafted, leaving the family to make their way alone. They arrived in Germany and began a new life. She met her husband-to-be, Arthur, at a dance, they married shortly thereafter, and were together for 71 years.
Times were difficult after the war, and the couple, with a child, decided to immigrate to the U.S. and set out for Oklahoma where they lived for six months. The hot climate was difficult, so they moved to Chicago and settled in with a second child. Years later saw a move to Forest Park, grown kids, a grandchild, then great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Eventually, she became “Grandma” to many children in the Forest Park area. A wonderful homemaker who loved gardening, organizing, and keeping a spotless home, she also worked outside the home and particularly enjoyed bookkeeping and insisted on balancing to the penny. In later years, she enjoyed summers in Michigan and winters in Florida. The Forest Park home was eventually sold, and the couple lived in La Grange with their daughter.
Ida Steeg was the wife of Arthur; the mother of Trudy Roznos and Monica Steeg; the grandmother of Jason Roznos; great-grandmother of four and great-great grandmother of four; sister of Wanda Busing and the late Roman Manske; and aunt of many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6 at Forest Park Baptist Church, 133 Harlem Ave., with additional information available at 708-366-2200 or www.Zimmerman-Harnett Funeral Home.com.
