Obituary for Minnesota Brown Swiss Breeder Steve Tuman - Cowsmo

Obituary for Minnesota Brown Swiss Breeder Steve Tuman

Everyone at Cowsmopolitan wishes to pass along our most sincere sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of Minnesota Brown Swiss breeder Steve Tuman, of Watkins, MN, who passed away on January 6th.

Funeral Services for Minnesota Brown Swiss Breeder Steve TumanSteven 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.

 

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