Earl Wallmann Steinke, 94, Waterford, died on Memorial Day, May 30, 2016, truly fitting for a man who dedicated himself to service of others.
He was a WWII fighter pilot, owner of Steinke Company in Waterford and retired as a Brig Gen (sel) and Commander of the 440th Tactical Airlift Wing in the Air Force Reserve.
He was born in the village of Waterford in 1921 and graduated from Waterford High School in 1939. As a young entrepreneur he raised pheasants, loved the out of doors, and was an excellent marksman on his newspaper route.
He joined the Army Air Corps and went on to fly the P-38, P-39, P-47, P-51, F-86, C-119 and C-130 in his career, first assigned in the Pacific theater then moving into the Air Force Reserve wing briefly in Chicago and then Milwaukee, after the completion of WWII and his active duty time. The Milwaukee 440th Wing was selected as the Outstanding Reserve Unit of the nation 4 times under his leadership.
He was instrumental in Operation Haylift, Hurricane Camille, as well as the Cuban Missile Crisis, retiring in 1974.
He was a Master Mason, Shriner, Jester, member of American Legion Post 20, and the longest continuous member of Waterford’s Community United Methodist Church as his great grandfather helped establish the church in Waterford. As a 4th generation businessman, his father and he transformed Wallmann and Steinke, Furniture and Undertaking to a full mechanical contracting firm well respected throughout the state. He sold it after nearly 150 years in the family.
While stationed in Hawaii during WWII, he met Virginia Leigh Ridout of Petersburg, Va. They married in July 1947 and settled in the Colonel’s hometown of Waterford for their nearly 69-year marriage. He shared his love of the outdoors in family adventures and travel.
Survivors include his loving wife; daughters, Barbara Jo Baldwin (David Baldwin), Debra Lynn Steinke and Marcy Ann Steinke (Col. James A. Fike, MD); grandchildren, Brett Baldwin, Mikala (Baldwin) Heberling, Kory (Buse) Chart, Charity (Buse) Ailstock, and Aaron Buse; great-grandchildren, Joseph, Benjamin, Matthew, Hannah, Jack, Dana, Grace, Addison, Dean, Adam, Amelia, and Sarah; other relatives and friends.
We’ll miss his noble character and witty sense of humor.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John F. Steinke and Esther Augusta (Wallmann) Steinke; siblings, Carlyle Steinke, Carolyn (Steinke) Hruz and Emory Steinke.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Community United Methodist Church, 455 S. Jefferson St., Waterford, on Saturday, June 4, at 3:30 p.m. Visitation in church is 3-3:30 p.m., followed by military honors with social dinner and celebration to follow in church banquet hall.
In lieu of floral expressions of sympathy, the family suggests memorials to Community United Methodist Church www.extremefaith.org or American Legion Post 20; checks made out to either can be dropped off at church or Mealy Funeral Home, 225 W. Main St., Waterford.
Well-wishers can visit www.mealyfuneralhome.com.
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