Jane Stepan

Jane Marie Stepan of Sauk Centre, MN, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at CentraCare in St. Cloud. Surrounded by the love of her family, she fought with strength and unwavering faith until surrendering to her Lord and Savior.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Jane was born April 28, 1956, to Alfred and Leona (Weber) Pfeffer and was raised on Sauk Lake in Sauk Centre, where she spent her childhood enjoying the simple joys of life—especially fishing with her father and being outdoors. She often spoke of those years as some of the best years of her life, where “summers seemed to last forever.” She was a beloved sister to Mike and Linda. Those early years shaped the kind, hardworking, and grounded woman she would become.

Jane shared a lifelong love with her husband, Daniel Stepan, whom she met in high school and later began dating. Their story began simply - young love that grew into a lifetime together. They were married on July 1, 1978, at St. Paul’s Church in Sauk Centre. Together, they built a life rooted in love, partnership, and commitment. They had four children—Ben, Travis, Lynette, and Maggie. Jane said Daniel taught her what was important in life: “you take the good with the bad and give each other total support no matter what.”

Their honeymoon - camping through Yellowstone - reflected the life they would continue to live: simple, adventurous, and above all, together. Over the years, they traveled across the country, often camping, creating memories that would last a lifetime.

Jane found joy in the simple things. She loved being at home, working in her garden, canning vegetables she grew herself, and cooking for her family. She was an incredible cook, and her kitchen was a place of comfort, love, and togetherness.

Jane worked for many years as a legal secretary and later in tax preparation. She took pride in her work and was known for her strong work ethic. She was one of the hardest working people you could ever know, and she believed that if something was worth doing, it should be done well. This was something she learned from her mother.

Her greatest passions were camping with her husband and going antiquing - simple moments that brought her so much peace and happiness. Jane described this as how she would spend her perfect day.

She was, above all, an incredible wife, a devoted mother, and a loving grandmother—truly the best in every role she held. Her family was her world, and she made sure each person in it felt loved, supported, and cared for. She was their home, their comfort, and their constant. Nothing meant more to Jane than seeing them happy and cared for.

Jane lived her life serving others with a selfless heart. As her nephew Patrick so perfectly said, “she always served others before herself.”

Her faith in God was a guiding force throughout her life. She prayed for strength, forgiveness, and for those she loved, and that faith carried her through her most difficult days. Jane faced a long and difficult battle with multiple cancers spanning over 20 years. Through it all, she carried herself with courage and grace.

Jane is now pain-free and at peace. She is reunited in heaven with her beloved grandson, Colton, whom she loved so dearly and carried in her heart always.

2 Timothy 4:7  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, faith, and family that will live on through her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and all who were blessed to know her.

She is survived by her husband, Daniel Stepan of Sauk Centre; her four children, Ben (Jen) Stepan of Melrose, Travis (Teresa) Stepan of Robbinston, ME, Lynette (Keith) Joens of Sauk Centre, and Maggie Stepan of Sauk Centre; and her six granddaughters, Chloe, Aubrey, Emily, Sophie, Elizabeth, and Madison. She is also survived by her sister, Linda (Larry) of Nevis, and many special sisters- and brothers-in-law, as well as nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandson, Colton Deters; her brother, Mike Pfeffer; her father- and mother-in-law, Ferdinand and Evelyn Stepan; her brother-in-law, Kenneth Stepan; her sisters-in-law, Barb Stepan and Lylan Stepan; and her nephews, Chad Halverson and Clint Stepan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society in honor of Jane’s long and courageous battle.