Bismark Adair Steinhagen, 89, of Beaumont, died Saturday, August 3, 2024. He was born in Beaumont, Texas to Edward Harvey Steinhagen, Sr. and wife Thelma Ann Heartfield. He attended Beaumont High and graduated from the University of Texas, Austin, with a degree in Business Administration. He married Janie Nelson in 1957. He served in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, guarding nuclear weapons after the Korean war. Mark went on to build Steinhagen Oil Company, Inc. with his father and brother Harvey Steinhagen, Jr.

Mark loved his community and served it in many capacities. He was an Elder of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, a Commissioner of the Port of Beaumont, President of the Rotary Club of Beaumont and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a President of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, a Regent of the Lamar University System, and was on the Board of Directors of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word which became CHRISTUS Hospitals. He served on the Board of Directors of Gulf States Utilities and Entergy holding seats on both the Audit and Nuclear Power Committees.

Mark's favorite pastimes were hunting and fishing. Never one to sleep past five am, in the winters, he would be up at four with his truck loaded and ready to hit the road for the seven-and-a-half-hour drive to the deer camp while listening to Patsy Cline and Linda Ronstadt. In the summers he looked forward to deep sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico on his boat The Adelante and later at Sabine Lake from his Pathfinder. For 50 years, he spent almost every weekend on Bolivar Peninsula watching sunsets with his beloved Janie and hosting legendary 4th of July cookouts. Mark had a green thumb and grew beautiful tomatoes at the beach and at the country house.

Though Mark could be gruff and intimidating at times, he had a heart of gold and was always willing to help anyone or anything in need, including the little grey Kitty Cat who wandered up to his house and became his constant companion in recent years. He adored his family, and despite his dislike of technology, learned how to use FaceTime so he could stay in touch with his grandkids and great-grandkids. We will all miss him, and hope St. Peter greeted him at the Pearly Gates with a scotch and soda and a Sister Shubert roll overflowing with homemade Mayhaw jelly.

Mark is survived by his sister, Gretchen Hartzog of Maine; his two children, Mary Jane Benning, and Roy Nelson Steinhagen and his wife, Kim; grandchildren, Anna Steinhagen, Emily Steinhagen, Caitlin Laughlin and her husband, Thomas, Mark Benning and his wife, Lindsay, Will Benning and his wife, Hannah; and Mary Claire Kimball and her husband, Steven; and great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Laughlin, Ben Laughlin, Annie Laughlin, Madeline Benning, Hagen Benning, Harrison Benning, Noah Benning, Henry Benning, and Samuel Benning.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janie Steinhagen; brother, E. Harvey Steinhagen Jr.; and great-granddaughter, Catherine Reid Laughlin.

We celebrate Mark's relationships with his dear friends: Jim Dishman, Don Shaver, Benny Hughes, Will Ohmstede, Tanner Hunt, Robert Robertson, Martin Edwards, Louis Broussard, Craig Hill, Jim Park, George Dishman, Elvis Mason and Bobby Wall.

The family would like to express their gratitude to Mark's caregivers: Dr. Pranav Bhatt, Dr. Todd Clarke, Pete St. Clair, Jessica Jackson, Melody Mondy, Catherine Hubilla; and to everyone at Intrepid Hospice, especially Corey Bierbaum. Special thanks to Debra LaBlue for driving Mark to church on Sunday.

Memorial contributions for Mr. Steinhagen may be made to The Janie and Mark Steinhagen Business Scholarship at the Lamar University Foundation, PO Box 11500, Beaumont Texas 77710, Beaumont, Pets Alive, 46718 I-10 East, Winnie Texas 77665, or St. Andrew's Foundation, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont Texas 77706.

A gathering of Mr. Steinhagen's family and friends will begin at 10:00 a.m., in the fellowship hall, with his memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m., in the Sanctuary, Saturday, August 10, 2024, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 1350 North 23rd Street, Beaumont, under the direction of Broussard's, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.

Complete and updated information may be found at: broussards1889.com.