Gene L. Steidinger Sr.

Gene Steidinger Sr. went to his eternal rest on Monday March 9, 2026, surrounded by family. He will be greeted in heaven with outstretched arms by his wife, Betty and son, Tom.

He was born November 13, 1929, on the Steidinger Farmstead in the Town of Stettin to the late Carl and Albertine (Roeder) Steidinger. On September 10, 1952 he married the love of his life Betty Ruth Buttke at Trinity Lutheran Church, Wausau.

Gene farmed his entire life in the Town of Stettin. He loved his family and was very proud of them. His grandfather, Ludwig Steidinger, was a German immigrant and Gene was the last surviving member of the 3rd generation of the family tree to live in America. He was extremely proud to be a member of the last German-speaking confirmation classes at Trinity of Stettin and at the time of his passing he was the church's oldest living member. He also loved eating, some of his favorites included boiled dinner with pork hocks, head cheese, liver and blood sausages in addition to many sweets, but in particular Betty's graham cracker pie.

Gene was especially fond of Belgian draft horses. He purchased his first registered mare in 1960, one of the first in Central Wisconsin. Many of his "vacations" involved attending draft horse events. For many years Gene and Betty rarely missed a spring or fall of Waverly, Iowa horse auctions. He loved showing his horses at local fairs in Wausau, Athens, Neilsville, Marshfield, and several years at the Minnesota State Fair. His draft horse travels also included attending the North American Belgian Championship shows in Toronto, Ontario, Lexington, Kentucky, Columbus, Ohio, Brandon, Manitoba and Indianapolis, Indiana.

He is survived by four of his children, sons Gene Jr. and Brian Steidinger both of the Town of Stettin, and twin daughters, Cindy (Doug) Breyer and Sandy (Randy) Schmidt both of Birnamwood. Five grandchildren, Cody (Kimberly) Schmidt, Dillon Breyer, Derek (Katelyn) Breyer, Jeremy (Trisha) Schmidt, Linda Piszczor and seven great-grandchildren, Tori, Bree, Zachary, Aaron, Brayden, Morgan, and Ethan as well as many nieces and nephews.

Gene Sr. was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Albertine, his wife Betty, and son Tom. Gene was further preceded in death by his siblings, Rheinhold (Eleanore) Steidinger, Elsie (Walter) Semerau, Esther (Norman) Fellbaum, Erna (Rudolph) Thurs, Sadie (Alfred) Strei, Verna (Lawrence) Hanke, Hilton (Elaine) Steidinger and Vilas (Phyllis) Steidinger, and brother and sister-in-laws: Mildred (Ervin) Graveen, Donald (Helen) Buttke, and Donna (Albert) Neuman.

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday March 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stettin. (232280 N 120th Ave, Wausau, WI 54401) Pastor Will Ostrem will officiate. Visitation will be held on Saturday March 14, 2026 from 10:00 AM until the hour of service at the church. Burial will follow at the Stettin Christian Cemetery.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the many family and friends for their wonderful visits throughout the years.