Eva Craig Steggall

Eva JoAnn Craig Steggall age 89 of Colorado, formerly of Broken Bow passed away.

Graveside Memorial services will be Friday, October 28, 2022, at 2:00 pm at the Custer Center Cemetery with Pastor Becky Dobitsch officiating. Govier Brothers Mortuary are assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com.

“JoAnn” was born in Broken Bow, NE on August 4, 1932.  She was the youngest in her family and admits she was spoiled rotten.  After high school where JoAnn was a cheerleader and a good student, she married the love of her life Leonard Wayne Steggall.  Their wedding was on May 14, 1950.  Eva and Leonard started a family and moved to Colorado.   Leonard worked in several mines and as a hard rock miner working his way to the top quickly. 

They had five children all two years apart: Steven Larry, Jodie Lee, Michael Wayne, Patrick Lynn, and Gale Ann. 

Tragically on October 17, 1964, Leonard was killed on the way home from work.  When a semi-truck jackknifed in front of him also killing two people in a camper. 

JoAnn remarried to the local game warden and moved to the country on a state wildlife preserve.  She was as thrilled as were the kids. 

Life was good, Joann enjoyed it.  She became a regular frontiers woman.  She helped with the trapping and tagging of elk to keep track of their movements.  She enjoyed hunting and her elk steak was something to dream about.  She ran her own trapline, catching coyotes, bobcats, racoons, and an occasional badger.  She was a star at the local potluck dinners held at the smalltown school.  She was famous for her fried bread, jams, and jellies.  People adored her cinnamon apple butter and peach pit jelly.  She canned for years selling them at craft fairs and rodeo events.  All the while her kids never went hungry or missed a sports practice or game even though it was an hour dirt road to town, one way.

The game warden retired and together they built a log home close to a paved road. The kids helped but then went their own way coming to visit often.  Their home was near McCoy Colorado next to the Colorado River. 

Eva had a love for horses, taking six-week pack trips to the flattops of Colorado.  She was the camp cook, cooking the big fish the game warden Walt Woodward would catch by fly fishing in the moonlight on many lakes.

She had a favorite horse named Tammy.  A sorrel mare-half Tennessee walking horse.  It was related to Walt’s horse Buck.  Both could cover the trails in style. 

Eva was named after her Aunt Eva who also had a love for horses, judging from the photos, Eva was always on a horse. Leonard loved horses too. Together they raised Appaloosa horses in Eagle, CO. There was always a pony around for the kids and the ever-present donkey or two that JoAnn would ride pregnant or not.

Time pasted Walt died, and JoAnn choose to sell the house and move to Grand Junction, CO to be closer to friends. She was happy there still canning fruit and veggies always had a dog around for company.

Slowly the terrible grip of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease took over. She battled it for several years. Unfortunately, most of her family abandoned her when she ran out of money. Therefore, how many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren is unknown exactly. She does have one grandchild who is a grandpa so there are many. The one thing she wanted most was for her kids to get along. Who know for what many reasons that never happened. She is and was a wonderful person, the best mother possible, and is reunited with her true love in Heaven we can all count on that.