Aliceann Steen

Aliceann Steen, age 87, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, passed away Saturday, October 4, 2024 at Faith Hospice at Trillium Woods, Byron Center, Michigan. The daughter of the Rev. Edward & Johanna (Groen) Visser, she was born on February 2, 1937 in Rock Rapids, Iowa. She married the Rev. Dr. Franklin David Steen, Sr. and together they raised three children and enjoyed 27 years of marriage until Rev. Steen passed away on November 15, 1986. They lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Grand Rapids, Aetna, and Detroit, Michigan, Sioux Center, Iowa, and Chicago, Illinois. Aliceann moved to Naples, Florida and back to Chicago before returning to Grand Rapids to be near family when she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Aliceann was iconic: a great seamstress, an adventurous traveler, a creator of safe and beautiful spaces, a curious learner and a lover of people. Our mom, grandma, grams lit up when family was near even long into her struggle with Alzheimer’s. Alice was always willing to push the boundaries of any convention: fighting for civil rights with Frank in Detroit and working as a designer in Iowa. She was an artist, a trailblazer in fashion and design and could use a scarf to make someone glamorous or to beautify a room. Aliceann was generous: she designed and sewed many wedding dresses, costumes and other garments and was always ready to help anyone shop. She had the best laugh and never took herself too seriously. Mom was comfortable sleeping on the floor of our living room or in a 5 star hotel and could be up at 2 am finishing a suit for our dad for an event the next day. We are certain our mom is continuing to create beautiful spaces and enjoying stories and laughing with our dad. As a nephew proclaimed, “Aunt Alice is decorating the sky in beige linen.” She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; brother John Visser; sister-in-laws Joan and Mary Visser. Surviving are her brothers Duane Visser & Fred Visser and sister-in-law Jo Visser of Grand Rapids, Michigan; her children and their spouses, Stacyann Steen, M.D. & John Van Oene of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Franklin David Steen, Jr. & Barbara Shaffer of Denver, Colorado, and Jamacyn Steen Rheude & Bryan Rheude of Chicago, Illinois; 4 grandchildren, Kae (Ben) Videtich, Luke VanOene, Colette Rheude and Felix Rheude; 3 great-grandchildren, Silas, Maelin and Junia Videtich; siblings-in-law Janyce (Jerry) Bandstra of Midland Park, New Jersey, Samuel (Lorraine) Steen of Wyckoff, New Jersey, Bob (Joyce) Steen of Suttons Bay, Michigan and Caralee (Steve) Rienstra of Waterford, Michigan and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Graveside committal services are at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2024 at Ridgeview Memorial Gardens, 5151 8th Ave, Grandville, Michigan. The family plans a celebration of life at a later date, please contact the family for information if you are interested in participating. Instead of flowers, Aliceann would have appreciated contributions in her memory to: Presbyterian Day School in Belize (https://mtw.org/projects/details/presbyterian-day-school-belize-p0364). To send a message of sympathy to the family, sign Aliceann’s online guest book, or to share a favorite memory, please visit: www.MichiganCremation.com Burial arrangements are entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Aliceann Steen, please visit our flower store.