Volunteer celebrates 50 years of service to her parish’s GermanFest celebration

By Marc and Julie Anderson mjanderson@theleaven.org

TOPEKA — Golden anniversaries are usually celebrated by those united in marriage or those who make it to 50 years of ordained ministry or religious life.

In Topeka, though, Maureen Steinbock, a member of Sacred Heart-St. Joseph Parish, just observed an unusual type of anniversary.

For 50 years, she has served as the head of the kitchen and food team for the parish’s GermanFest, held annually in early June. The festival doubles not only as a celebration of German heritage but also as a fundraiser for the parish and Holy Family Grade School, the school the parish shares with its neighboring parish, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Funds raised also go toward Hayden, Topeka’s only

Catholic high school.

Prior to the outdoor Mass (celebrated in both English and German), the parish’s pastor (and native son) Father Tim Haberkorn honored Steinbock for her volunteer service to the parish, saying, “She’s made a lot of sacrifices, and we really appreciate all of the help she’s given us through the years.”

It all began in 1973.

That was the year the 37-yearold Steinbock and her mother made 300 krautstrudels — and the parish started its annual celebration of German heritage, honoring the members’ ethnic heritage. Father Robert Bonn served as the pastor.

“I can still see [my mother] back in the kitchen the year we made 300. She said to me, ‘Maureen, you’ve got to keep it up.’ And I haven’t let her down,” Steinbock said.

These days, Steinbock and the many volunteers around her make nearly 6,000 krautstrudels.

“That’s what people come for,” Steinbock said.

Still, krautstrudels account for one just item.

There’s also sauerbraten, brats, noodles, dumplings and hot German potato salad, among other selections. And then there’s the desserts — cinnamon rolls (made from the same dough used for the krautstrudels), pies, German chocolate cake and grebble (fried dough often known as grebble doughnuts), just to name a few.

“You only do the German thing once a year, and people come for it,” Steinbock said.

At 87, Steinbock shows no signs of slowing down. And