STEELE, Thomas J.

STEELE, PAREL, HALSTROM, BLUENTHAL, BIGBEE

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 9/12/2006 at 11:26:22

Thomas J. Steele

CHEROKEE, Iowa -- Thomas J. Steele, 73, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, formerly of Cherokee, passed away Thursday, April 6, 2006, at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake following a lengthy illness.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Schuchert Funeral Home in Spirit Lake.

Mr. Steele was born March 30, 1933, in Cherokee, the son of Richard and Catherine (Parel) Steele. He grew up with many relatives living close by. He graduated from Wilson High School in Cherokee, then attended Iowa State College. He served his country in the U.S. Army from Nov. 3, 1953 to Sept. 12, 1955, where he was stationed outside of Paris.

He was united in marriage to Bernice J. Halstrom on June 6, 1958, in rural Meriden, Iowa. He worked for Steele State Bank in many capacities and served as its president for the last 15 years of operation. He was a strong supporter for the town and farming community.

He was a member of the Kiwanis Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served on the Cherokee city council, the Cherokee Economic Development Commission, the Cherokee Flying Club and was an elder at Memorial Presbyterian Church.

He had a lifelong love of flying and was an accomplished pilot. He also was a proficient artist, an avid genealogist and loved a daily crossword puzzle.

He is survived by his wife, Bernice Steele of Spirit Lake; four children, Mark Steele of Spirit Lake, Janet and her husband, Robert Blumenthal of Rapid City, S.D., Dian Steele of Spirit Lake and Jim Steele and his wife, Eve of Mount Pleasant, Iowa; a sister and her husband, Jane Ann and Garth Bigbee; a brother and his wife, Dan and Jane Steele; an aunt, Harriett Parel; grandchildren, Christopher Steele, Hannah Steele, Andrea Blumenthal, Emily Steele, Abraham Blumenthal, Nicole Steele, Samuel Steele, Ashley Young and Cory Young; three cousins; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.