- Date Of Birth: January 13, 1924
- Date Of Death: April 16, 2010
- State: Iowa
Dr. Mildred R. Steele, age 86, died at Brookestone Village in Omaha on April 16, 2010.
A daughter of Joe and Gladys Romedahl, Mildred was born in rural Napier, Iowa, on January 13, 1924. She grew up with her older sister, Josephine Romedahl Said. In 1947 at Luther, Iowa, she married Otto Scott Steele, Jr., then a student at Boston University School of Theology.
Mildred graduated from Napier High School in 1942 and Simpson College in 1946. After 17 years as a full-time wife and mother, she began study as a graduate student, earning an M.A. in English from Drake University and a higher education specialist degree and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Iowa. She served as an English faculty member at Des Moines Area Community College and Drake University. At Central College she served on the English faculty and as Communication Skills Coordinator. She retired from Central College in 1990 as an emerita assistant professor. In 1976 she was one of 11 English professors nationwide honored for “outstanding undergraduate teaching” by Change magazine. In 1991 she received an Alumni Achievement Award from Simpson College.
Mildred enjoyed research, writing, and speaking throughout her life. About a dozen of her poems appeared in print. She wrote essays published in books and scholarly journals. She was secretary of the National Association of Developmental Education, which published the results of her 20-year research study of college student persistence. She gave over 50 lectures across the state for Humanities Iowa. In her later years, she enjoyed researching and writing extensive volumes of family history.
After retirement, Otto and Mildred lived in their home in Pella until 2006. When Otto was diagnosed with Lewy Body Disease, they moved to Pella’s Vriendschap Village. After Otto passed away in 2008, Mildred moved to Remington Heights Assisted Living Facility in Omaha. In November, 2009, after a stroke, she moved to Brookestone Village Nursing Care Facility in Omaha. On March 26, 2010, Mildred was honored as the Nebraska Merit Mother of the Year by American Mothers, Inc.
Mildred was preceded in death by her infant son; her parents, Joe and Gladys Romedahl; her sister, Josephine Said; and her husband, Dr. Otto Steele.
June 19, 2010 – 10:30 a.m.
Pella, Iowa
Inurnment
Luther, Iowa
1414 University Street
Pella, Iowa 50219
