Edward D. Steenburg

The Honorable Edward D. Steenburg passed away on December 7, 2025, at his daughter's home in Lincoln, surrounded by his family, following a courageous battle with cancer.

Ed was born on January 15, 1953 in Aurora, Nebraska to Dr. Edmund A. (Ned) and Patricia J. (McArthur) Steenburg. He grew up as one of five siblings in a warm and loving home, and graduated from Aurora High School in 1971, where he was active in football, basketball and track.

In 1974, Ed married his high school sweetheart, Monica Yonker. The two met in Aurora while in school, and built a beautiful life together over 51 years of marriage. They welcomed two daughters, Abby (1980) and Becca (1984), who were the joy of his life.

Ed earned his bachelor's degree from Kearney State College in 1974 and spent the next three years teaching middle school in Council Bluffs, Iowa, while residing in Omaha. He later earned his law degree at Creighton University School of Law, graduating in 1981. That same year, Ed and his family moved to Ogallala, Nebraska, where he began his legal career practicing family and criminal law at Padley & Dudden.

In 1988, Ed joined the law firm of McQuillian & Spady and later became a partner, after which the firm became McQuillian, Steenburg & McQuillian. He practiced there until 2004, and remained deeply grateful for the mentorship of Richard Dudden and James McQuillian whose guidance influenced his career for decades.

In February 2004, Ed was appointed as a County Judge in the 11th Judicial District where he served with integrity, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility until his retirement in February 2025. He believed strongly that individuals were not on trial for everything they had done in their lives, but for the specific offense before the court-a perspective that guided him to treat everyone with fairness and dignity.

Ed had a particular heart for young people who entered his courtroom. He never sought to punish youth, but to help them learn to make better choices, offering guidance that could be a light on their path and encourage them toward a different, healthier direction. This belief shaped many of his decisions and left a lasting impact on countless families.

During his tenure, he served as the President of the Nebraska County Judges Association, and was recognized with consistently high performance marks from attorneys practicing in his courtroom. He was also honored as a Nebraska State Bar Foundation Fellow-an acknowledgement given to leaders in the legal profession dedicated to community education, charitable service, and the improvement of administrative justice.

Ed was deeply committed to serving his community. He volunteered as a regional coordinator and judge for the High School Mock Trial Project and served as the lead judge for the Keith County "Through the Eyes of the Child" Initiative. His additional community service included the Ogallala Board of Education (1997-2000), Ogallala Hospital Advisory Board (1994-2000), Ogallala Library Board (1984-1991) and a member of the Elks.

A man of faith, Ed was a devoted member of New Hope Church in Ogallala. His faith brought him comfort throughout his final year, and he cherished the fellowship of his New Hope life group. He deeply valued those relationships and found peace in reading the Bible.

Ed loved experiencing God's creation and spending time outdoors-hiking in Colorado, taking long walks, riding his bike, or simply relaxing on the back deck. He treasured vacations to the beaches of Mexico and Alaskan cruises. But his greatest joy came from his grandchildren. He could often be found on the floor playing with them, fully present. Watching them grow and discover the world was his happiest blessing.

He is survived by his wife, Monica; daughters Abby (Ruben) Sanchez of Austin, TX, and Becca (Evan) Crook of Lincoln; grandchildren Cruz, Mozelle and Indie Sanchez and Ledger and Nyles Crook; and siblings Martha Buss, Sally (Steve) Loyd, Nancy (Corey) Joekel, and Alan (Tina) Steenburg and multiple nieces and nephews.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Edmund A. (Ned) and Patricia J. Steenburg, brother-in-law, George Buss and father-in-law, Donald Yonker.

Services will be held on January 10, 2026 at 2 pm, at the New Hope Church in Ogallala NE. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trails West Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): 511 N Spruce Box #4, Ogallala, NE 69153, and Highplains Royal Family Kids. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.