Carl W. Steenberge

Carl W. Steenberge, 85, husband of Janet Clarke Steenberge died Saturday, February 6, 2010 of leukemia at his home, surrounded by family, following a year long battle with his disease. He was blessed with and deeply loved by a large family and friends, his wife of 63 years, their children Michael (Colleen Kingston), Patrick (Janet Rupp), Gerald (Ginger Knoll), Colleen Zematis, Kathleen Dahlkemper(Dan), Timothy (Jeannie Deardeuff) Anne Jane Drexler (Steve), 33 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and Sr. Bernadette Bell, RSM. From a simple rural beginning, Carl graduated high school at age 16 after beginning in a one-room schoolhouse in Bangor, N.Y. He completed business school in 1942. He was initially employed by General Electric as a construction auditor. He remained with GE for 41 years advancing to multiple financial and managerial positions including General Manager of GE Brazil, and ultimately retiring in Locomotive Systems Strategic Planning. He and the family moved to Erie in 1954 from Schenectady, N.Y. He traveled often in retirement to visit family and friends covering all 48 continental states and most of the provinces of Canada. During his career he served as Chapter and National President of the National Association of Accountants, Chapter president of the GE Elfun Society and served as a United Way board member. The family was active as members of St. Luke Parish for many years; and Carl and Janet are currently members of St. Peter Cathedral Parish. While traveling regularly to visit his children and their families, he also spent considerable time providing his expertise in financial matters, assisting many other senior citizens. In retirement he took up golf and became an avid spectator at the activities his grandchildren were engaged in. He always maintained his love and enjoyment of bridge, a great intergenerational gathering activity, using his expertise to teach subsequent generations its challenges and nuances. Carl was a well-admired and generous man. Carl was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Ida Steenberge, sisters Margaret Rockhill and Grace LaValley and brother Ralph as well as his beloved son-in-law Frank Zematis, granddaughter Aileen Steenberge and great grandson Charles Monnin. Family and friends may call at the Dahlkemper home, 530 Seminole Dr. (Frontier area) Tuesday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in St. Peter Cathedral. Burial will be private. Flowers are graciously declined, memorials may be made to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation, 1001 State St., Erie, PA 16501; St. Peter Cathedral, 230 West 10th St., Erie, PA 16501 or to the Sisters of Mercy, 444 East Grandview Blvd, Erie, PA 16504. Arrangements by the John J. Quinn Funeral Home, West 9th & Liberty St.