Saturday, September 6th, 2014
Donald Steinke
Donald Edward Steinke, 81, St. Marys, passed away Sept. 4, 2014, at his home, surrounded by family.
He was born Jan. 4, 1933, in Wapakoneta, to Rudolph and Marcella Schneider Steinke. On Aug. 4, 1956, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Marys, he married Ann Marie Catherine Dietz, who survives.
Also surviving are eight children, Nicholas J. (Becky McJunkin) Steinke, New Knoxville, Hans L. (Joyce Nagel) Steinke, St Marys, Angela M. (Nathaniel) Stienecker, Decatur, Ark., Eric D. Steinke, St Marys, Ga., Beth R. (Ronald) Klopfenstein, Botkins, Heidi S. (Darren) Meade, Canal Winchester, and Greta A. (Ricardo) Gonzalez, Belpoman, Belize; 18 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; four siblings, Kathleen (Paul) Koenig, Wapakoneta, Judy Yahl, St Marys, Thomas (Janice) Steinke, Botkins, and Rudolph Steinke Jr., Cridersville; and many nieces and nephews.
Deceased are two sons, Karl Edward and Joseph; five brothers-in-law, Anthony Yahl, Victor Overman, Leo Dietz, Roman Poeppelman and William Case; and four sisters-in-law Margaret Overman, Mary Dietz, Blanche Poeppelman and Theresa Case.
He graduated in 1951 from St. Joseph High School, Wapakoneta. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 5, 1953, served in the 1704 HQ Battery 5th Field Artillery Battalion and was stationed in Germany, where he served as corporal. He received an honorable discharged in February 1961. He was a member of St Marys VFW Post 9289 and American Legion Post 323.
He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church and served in fundraising for the church building and as a lector and Eucharistic minister.
He attended Cursillos in Christianity in 1968. He was a member of the Fr. James O Byrne Knights of Columbus Council 1592 and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, St Gaspar del Bufalo Assembly 825.
He was a furniture salesman and part owner of Swongers Furniture City in Moulton. He started working at Swongers sweeping floors in the Wapakoneta store while still in high school, and then returned after serving in the Army. He retired in 1998.
He and his wife celebrated 58 years as husband and wife, raising their children in their faith and beliefs, teaching life lessons along the way, even as grandparents. Together, they enjoyed dancing, fishing, camping, making turtle soup for the annual parish festival and traveling to Germany, Puerto Rico, England and Hawaii. They were co-workers in the family Woodshed upholstery and woodworking business.
He enjoyed a lifelong interest in gardening, photography and woodworking. He especially enjoyed creating toys and gifts for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, as well as being a general fix-it man for his grown children.
Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Tuesday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the Rev. Barry Stechschulte officiating. Burial will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery, St. Marys.
Calling is 2-8 p.m. Monday and 9:30–10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Miller Funeral Home, west chapel, St. Marys.
Memorials may be directed to Holy Rosary Catholic Church-Capital Improvements Fund or the Friends of Holy Rosary group.
Condolences may be expressed at www.millerfuneralhomes.net.
