Joseph Bernard Steele 1912-1993

BROMELKAMP, STEELE, PENN, ZAPH, DORR

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 2/17/2005 at 20:57:52

Former Postville lawyer and city clerk Joe Steele died at his home on Friday, Feb. 12, 1993. Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb. 15 at St. Bridget's in Postville. For a full obituary, see page 4 of this weeks Herald-Leader.

Postville-Leader newspaper, page 4:

Joseph Bernard Steele, son of James and Frances (Bromelkamp) Steele, was born on Feb. 25, 1912 at Postville, Iowa. He died on Friday, Feb. 12, 1993 at his home in Postville. He was 80.

He graduated from Postville High School in 1929, and from Loras College in Dubuque in 1933. He graduated from the University of Iowa Law School in 1936. He was a special agent to the FBI during World War II from 1942 to 1945. After returning to Postville he gave many speeches about his experiences.

Mr. Steele resumed his law practice and served his community as an attorney for 50 years. He was an active member of the community, and served as an attorney for several organizations, including the Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative and the Postville Community Schools. He served as clerk for the city of Postville for many years. He was a member of St. Bridget Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ida; his daughter, Marilyn Penn of Sun Prairie, Wis.; two granddaughters, Joan and Ann Penn; and two sisters-in-law, Dorthy Zaph and Marie Dorr, both of Dubuque, Iowa.

A funeral mass was held on Monday, Feb. 15, 1993 at 10 a.m. at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville, the Rev. Roger L. Katz officiating. Burial was at St. Peter's Cemetery, Clermont. Casket bearers were Vincent Weber, Daryl Dorr, Joan Penn, James Lechtenberg, Charles Fishback and Jeff Krambeer. Arrangements were by the Schutte Funeral Service of Postville and Clermont.

Postville Herald-Leader - contributed by Mary Durr