Elfriede "Elfie" Steigerwald

Elfriede Steigerwald, age 89, of Traverse City, passed away on February 13, 2025. Elfie was born in Novi Pavljani, Croatia, daughter of Frank and Maria (Herbei) Niklas. At age sixteen, Elfie immigrated to the US from Austria. After two years in Florence, AL her family moved to Detroit. Soon thereafter she met and married Louis Steigerwald. Though she completed a two-year apprenticeship in tailoring, Elfie spent most of her life as the world’s finest homemaker; she was a devoted wife and loving mother to her four children. Her days included running a busy household. Elfie enjoyed and excelled in cooking, baking and gardening. Outside of the home, she spent many hours supporting the kids in their athletic, school, and church events. As an active member at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Elfie served as a Deaconess and on the Women’s Guild. Often you'd find her helping in the kitchen or crafting items for the boutique shop, at the annual antique show. She was also a member of the Austrian Verein and Plum Hollow Golf Club. After retiring to Traverse City in 1988, Lou and Elfie, loved hosting their growing family and friends at their Long Lake home. In her new community she sought and found great joy in various volunteer opportunities. At Munson Medical Center Elfie was recognized for over 30 years of volunteer service. Her duties ranged over the years from assisting on the pediatric floor, to knitting hats for newborns, to making dolls for premature babies in the NICU, to patient escort, to historian, to handling inventory for the gift shop. In addition, Elfie volunteered at Interlochen Center for the Arts. For 25 years she served as an usher and a lead seamstress in the costume shop. She also opened her home, as a host to a handful of Interlochen students and staff. She took great pleasure in lending a helping hand to fix a seam or hem, providing meals, or baking cookies for friends, neighbors, coworkers, church events, her contractors and doctors. Elfie was a member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis “Lou” Steigerwald in 2007. Surviving are her daughter, Trudy; sons, David, Thomas (Kori), Norman (Elisa); grandchildren, Bradley, Nicholas (Amanda), Rebekah Olmstead (Scottie), Jonathan (Erin), Hayden, Zoe Keener (Chris); step grandsons, Luke and Noah; and great grandchildren, Heidi, Gerald, Mara, Thea, and Hudson. Celebration of Elfie’s life will take place at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth St. Traverse City, on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. The family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A luncheon will follow at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1896 Rogers Rd, Interlochen. In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to munsonhealthcare.org/foundation (click on Ways to Give), Interlochen Center of the Arts, or Redeemer Lutheran Church (address above).

Elfriede "Elfie" Steigerwald

June 20, 1935 - February 13, 2025