Earl Wallmann Steinke

WATERFORD - Earl Wallmann Steinke, 94, passed away on Memorial Day, 30 May 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, WI 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 business man, 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 Col's home town of Waterford for their nearly 69 year marriage. Survived by his loving wife Virginia and three daughters; Barbara Jo Baldwin (David Baldwin), Debra Lynn Steinke and Marcy Ann Steinke (Col James A. Fike, MD). He shared his love of the outdoors in family adventures and travel. They also have 5 grandchildren; Brett Baldwin, Mikala (Baldwin) Heberling, Kory (Buse) Chart, Charity (Buse) Ailstock, and Aaron Buse; in addition to 12 great grandchildren; Joseph, Benjamin, Matthew, Hannah, Jack, Dana, Grace, Addison, Dean, Adam, Amelia, and Sarah. Further survived by 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 as well as 3 siblings, Carlyle Steinke, Carolyn (Steinke) Hruz and Emory Steinke. A celebration of life service will be held at the Community United Methodist Church 455 South Jefferson Street, Waterford on Saturday June 4, 3:30 in the afternoon. Visitation in church 3:00-3:30 PM, military honors to follow services and social dinner and celebration to follow in the church banquet hall. In lieu of floral expressions of sympathy, memorials are suggested by family to either Community United Methodist Church www.extremefaith.org or American Legion Post 20; checks made out to either can be dropped off at church or funeral home. Mealy Funeral Home 225 West Main Street Waterford, Wisconsin 53185 262-534-2233 www.mealyfuneralhome.com