Service Information
Steve Tuman, age 69, of rural Eden Valley-Watkins, Minnesota, passed away Friday, January 6, 2017, at his home.
Memorial Services will be held Thursday, January 12, 2017, at 2:00 P.M. at the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson, with spring interment at Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield.
Gathering of Family and Friends will be held 2 hours prior to the service at the Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel.
Military Honors by the Hutchinson Memorial Rifle Squad.
Obituary
Steven Garfield Tuman was born on March 9, 1947, in Hutchinson, Minnesota. He was the son of Vern and Elizabeth (Keller) Tuman. Steven was baptized as an infant, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth both at Vineyard Methodist Church in Hutchinson. He received his education in Hutchinson, and was a graduate of the Hutchinson High School Class of 1965. He furthered his education at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota receiving a degree in Tool and Die Technology.
Steven entered active military service in the Army as a Private First Class on August 10, 1967 at Fort Snelling and served his country during the Vietnam War. He received an Honorable Discharge on January 14, 1968, in Maryland. He achieved the rank of Private Second Class. He entered the Army National Guard after his Honorable Discharge.
On May 16, 1982, Steven was united in marriage to Nancy Degn at Vineyard Methodist Church in Hutchinson. Steven and Nancy resided in Hutchinson, Glencoe, and then rural Eden Valley Watkins area. Steven and Nancy shared 34 years of marriage.
Steven was a dairy farmer operating and owning Willow Wells Farm. He was a member of the Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association. Steven served as a judge at numerous county, state, and national dairy shows. He may have judged every county fair in the state more than once. He judged State Holstein Shows, State Brown Swiss Shows, State Fairs of all breeds, and World Dairy Expo in 1994, 2004 and the National Brown Swiss in Bucaramanga, Columbia in 1989. His favorite events to judge were 4-H shows because he loved working with the youth. He served as President of the Minnesota Brown Swiss Association and of the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association. Steven was also a former member of the PDCA board, Meeker County ADA, Meeker County Fairboard, and helped with the plans for the dairy building at the Meeker County fair.
Steven spent most of his life as a dairy farmer. He loved his Brown Swiss Cows. He loved taking them to the fairs and showing them. He cherished the friends he made along the way and loved passing that on to his kids, grandkids and other kids that wanted to learn. He had great patience when it came to working with kids and cows. Steven and his family competed at the Meeker County fair, Minnesota State Fair, and World Dairy Expo every year. He won numerous awards, Grand Champion Brown Swiss at World Dairy Expo in 1974. He was inducted into the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Hall of Fame in 2010. He was honored with The Elgin Award (Karl L. Mueller Memorial) in 2012 at the Minnesota State Fair. Steven also loved watching the sports, including the Timberwolves and Gophers Basketball teams.
Steven had a warm and kind loving personality and treated everyone with great respect. He was a hard worker and was always willing to help a fellow friend. His family was his life; he looked forward to spending time with his grandchildren and loved every moment with them. He recently received a new granddaughter, Grace, born in November. He loved teaching youth and his grandchildren farming and he had hoped to pass on his legacy of Dairy Farming.
Steven passed away on January 6, 2017, at his home, at the age of 69 years.
Blessed be his memory.
Steven is survived by his:
Wife, Nancy of Hutchinson, MN;
Children from second marriage, Ryan Tuman and his fiancé Elisabeth of Paynesville, MN;
Holly Tuman and her fiancé Keith Landwehr of Watkins, MN;
Step-Daughter, Jenny Verly and her husband Ron Verly of Sauk Rapids, MN;
Children from first marriage, Scott Tuman and his wife Tracie of Woodbury, MN;
Greg Tuman of St. Cloud, MN;
Grandchildren from second marriage, Reece and Asher Anderson, Justin and Grace Tuman, Riley and Jaxson Verly;
Grandchildren from first marriage, Jaylin, Mason and Carley Tuman, Conner Tuman,
Brother, Douglas Tuman and his wife Jeanne of Hutchinson, MN;
Sister, Eloise Cady and her husband Donald of Oregon;
Many other nieces, nephews and friends.
Steven is preceded in death by his Parents, Vern and Elizabeth Tuman; Grandson, Jace Tuman; and Father and Mother-In-Law, Harry and Dorothy Degn.
Bob Wraspir says
Steve was and will always be a special friend to me. We spent a great deal of time together growing up in Hutchinson. I was privileged to spend a lot of time on the Tuman farm in Huchinson. We played basketball in the barn in the winter and football on weekends in the pasture. I enjoyed working with Steve showing cattle at the state fair and helped baling hay in summer. After high school and college, I entered the military and did not see Steve for several years. I reconnected with Steve this fall and enjoyed talking about our past as well as the future. It’s amazing how good friends can pick up right where they left off. I will miss Steve forever!
Bob Wraspir says
Steve will always be a very special person in my life. Growing up in Hutchinson, we spent a great deal of time together. I was privileged to spend time on the Tuman family farm playing basketball in the barn in the winter and playing football in the pasture in the fall. In the summer I helped with baling hay and showing of cattle at the state fair. They were a terrific family and it was easy to see why Steve was such a quality person. After high school and college, we went our own ways and I did not see Steve for about 20 years. We reconnected this past fall, reminisced about old times, had lunch and a few beers. It was wonderful picking up where we had left off some 20 years prior. We met twice this fall and talked on the phone about getting together often. I will truly miss Steve and will always cherish the memories.
Jim & Karen Schneider says
We are sorry for your loss as our thoughts are with Steve’s family and friends. May you find peace and love in the memories you cherish. God bless to all.
Sonja Peterson says
I have happy childhood memories of playing on the farm, riding the tractor, seeing the cows! Blessings to the family.