Thomas Edward STEINBACH

01/03/1932 - 10/31/2014

STEINBACH, Thomas Edward (Age 82) Tom Steinbach passed away October 31, 2014, at the age of 82. He was born January 3rd, 1932, in the hardscrabble mining town of Hiteman, Iowa; the youngest of four children. Tom was a true modern day Renaissance man: Most everything he accomplished was self-taught. He was an inventor, innovator, self-made engineer, builder, accomplished pilot, master craftsman, entrepreneur, electrician, mechanic, plumber, logger, millwright, rancher, avid reader, historian, storyteller, traveler, outdoorsman, hunter and fisherman, pool player, wood carver, naturalist, and a wise mentor to many. During middle school, Tom started a trap line, catching mink and muskrat, to earn money for the family. While in 8th grade he made a choice to continue working odd jobs to support his family, before joining the Air Force and becoming an electrician with the rank of Staff Sargent. During his service he was awarded Airman of the Month at Fairchild Air Force Base for his development of electrical test equipment for B36 bombers. He was stationed in Okinawa and Guam during the close of the Korean War. Upon return to Fairchild AFB, he met his future wife Dorna Schmeller of Chewelah and fell in love with the Northwest where he ultimately settled. Prior to his return to Chewelah, they moved back to Des Moines, Iowa, where he attended Drake University and worked as a Carpenter Superintendent on several prominent projects. He purchased a ranch on 6 Mile Creek Road in Chewelah over a half a century ago and made a home for his family. Not having enough money to purchase the cattle that came with the property, he boomed as a millwright on missile silos in Southern Idaho to earn funds. Tom ran a construction company for over 25 years building many projects in Eastern Washington and employing many people. Tom and Dorna also had a building supply business on Flowery Trail. He worked construction during the day and farmed and ran his sawmill evenings and weekends. His lumber and millwork is in many buildings in the area. Tom milled Cottonwood planks and sold to Riblet Tramway in Spokane for brake blocks on ski trams all over the world. There was never a stranger around Tom, as he made everybody a conversation partner and was an avid debater around the current events of the day. After Dorna passed, Mary Sims became his partner in life. Mary and Tom enjoyed traveling, working in the woods and taking in the game of chance. Tom was a 33rd Degree Master Mason, Scottish Rite, Shriner, founding member of the Chewelah Flying Club, American Legion member, tireless community supporter, Stevens County Planning Commission member, and captain of the billiard team. He was preceded in death by his father (Tony Steinbach), mother (Jennie), wife (Dorna), brother (Joe Evans), sister (Wilma Pardun), and grandson (Brandon Morton). He is survived by his partner Mary Sims, brother (Robert Steinbach and wife Mary), son (John Steinbach and wife April), daughter (Teena McDonald and husband Gary), son Mike, grandchildren Amy Steinbach, Andrea Steinbach, Joe Steinbach, Tommy Steinbach, Brett McDonald, Johnathan Steinbach, Tyler Steinbach, Ricky Lyons, Josh Anderson, and Adrienne Acord. Services were held Saturday, November 8th at 11:00 am at the UCC Church in Chewelah, WA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Chewelah Food Bank, P.O. Box 628, Chewelah, WA. 99109.