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Clayton Steinwachs Obituary
Sept. 3, 1916 – Jan. 1, 2016
Clayton A. Steinwachs of West Seneca, former chief purchasing agent for F. N. Burt Co., died Friday in Brompton Heights Health Care Facility, Amherst, after a short illness. He was 99.
Born in Buffalo, he was believed to be the oldest surviving alumnus of Blessed Trinity School. He was a graduate of Hutchinson Central High School and the American Institute of Banking at the University at Buffalo.
He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served in the Pacific with the 147th Infantry as communications chief. Advancing to the rank of staff sergeant, he took part in the campaigns in the Northern Solomon Islands, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two bronze stars.
Mr. Steinwachs returned from service and joined the F. N. Burt Co. in 1946 as an accountant. He became assistant purchasing agent, then chief purchasing agent, retiring in 1980.
He was very active in community, church and school organizations in the 1960s and 1970s.
A longtime member of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, he served as a eucharistic minister, usher, bingo worker, choir member and president of the Holy Name Society. In 1967, he was named Father of the Year by the Bishop Fallon High School Parents Guild.
He and the late Bunny Ross led the group NOT (No Overhead Transit), which successfully opposed Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority plans to build an elevated rail system on Main Street and Kensington Avenue.
He was president of the Kensington Leroy Community Association and Fillmore-Leroy Area Residents Inc. (FLARE). He received the Community Service Award from then-Mayor Stanley Makowski in 1976.
In 1980, he and his wife retired to Polk City, Fla., where he served on the Mount Olive Heights Resident Council. He returned to the Buffalo area in 2000.
An avid card and domino player, he especially enjoyed pinochle.
As a resident of Elderwood of West Seneca, he organized church services and often led the morning exercise group.
His wife of 59 years, the former Ruth A. Betz, died in 2005.
Survivors include a daughter, Ann Manganello; four sons, Rev. David, Thomas, Carl and Joseph; two sisters, Jeanette Mueller and Carole Thompson; a brother, Harold; 10 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered by his son, the Rev. David Steinwachs, at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Blessed Trinity Church, 317 Leroy Ave.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Clayton Steinwachs
Joe
January 8, 2016
Dad, the celebration of your life that your family has reveled in these past days, has cemented in our hearts the joy & love you gave to all! You are missed by everyone but even more deeply loved. The world needs more men like you were. Rest in peace eternally with mom & all the saints.
Leith and Carl Steinwachs
January 7, 2016
We will miss you,Dad and your many insights about life and living.
phil arcuri
January 6, 2016
sorry to hear. my deepest condolences.
Kathy Eckert
January 6, 2016
My condolences to Clate's family. I know you will all miss him. He was a kind man and a wonderful husband to my cousin Ruth.
Barbara Borges (Eggers)
January 5, 2016
My condolences to all his family as he will be greatly missed! Because when we were young,our family & his lived in the same 2 story house we got to know what a wonderful person he was!...You will be missed. Love you!
Jean Smith(Eggers)
January 5, 2016
Uncle Clate was one of a kind. He will be missed. My prayers go out to my cousins,Dave,Tom,Ann,Carl & Joe.
Donna Steinwachs
January 5, 2016
Some of my best memories are of times spent with you and mom while married to Joe. You are always in my heart.
January 4, 2016
Dear David, Ann, Tom, Carl & Joe,
I wanted to extend my sincere condolences to you all. Your Dad was a very special person who was very caring and kind to everyone he met. I wasn't as close to him as some of my fellow cousins but when I did see him he always had something nice to say. I am sure he will be missed by many people. May your memories of him bring you great comfort.
Love,
Cousin Joyce
Karen Coffee
January 4, 2016
Good-bye to my most wonderful Uncle Clate. I will always remember him as loving,thoughtful kind, generous & fun.He was a great person,husband,father,brother & grandfather.You will be missed.Love you.
Steve Kane
January 4, 2016
Dear family of Clayton, It was such a gift to get to be able to know and spend the time I did with Clayton. What a great man. It was an honor to meet him. My thoughts with all the family.
January 4, 2016
Dear Ann and family, My condolences on the lost of your father. He was such a kind special man. I am unable to be there for you Ann as I am in Florida.My prayers go out to you. JoAnn Laudico Gullett
January 4, 2016
Good bye brother. I will miss you so much . you where always there for me from the beginning of my life until the end. I pray that I will spend my life again with you. I could never live up to your standards and way of life. you were one of a kind.I will feel a void in me until I join you, ruth and my wife Eleanor and all my family and friends, should I be so blessed. your brother Harold.
Don & Mary Celeste Steinwachs
January 3, 2016
The passing of Uncle Clayt saddened all who knew him. He was a true example of how to live a christian life. I am sure Uncle Clayt will receive his deserved rewards in heaven. Our sympathy to all the family.
Janet Kostran
January 3, 2016
I will miss you Uncle Clate, your kindness, humor, love and good natured personality helped every one you met. You could not help feeling good in your presence..In my eyes my Uncle Clate is a Saint. He felt like a father to me. I am happy for him because he prayed to be in the presence of our Lord if that was God's will. I am sorry, however, dear cousins for your loss.
cathy myers biederman
January 3, 2016
Dear Ann and family, please accept my condolences for the loss of your dad. I have so many fond memories of him from our growing up years in Buffalo. My thoughts and prayers are for you and your family during this time of grief.
Marlene Laudico Rettig
January 3, 2016
Dear Ann and brothers,
I'm so sorry to hear about your dad! His easy going personality made it hard to forget him. I would definitely be there for you if I were in town, Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers
Paul & Sharon Steinwachs
January 3, 2016
Sharon and I were saddened to learn of Uncle Clayt's passing. He was one fine person who gave his help to so many people around him. May he now be reunited with Aunt Ruth and my parents.
Paul and Sharon Steinwachs
Carole & Dick Thompson
January 3, 2016
My brother Clate was my best friend and like a father to me. I know he is up in heaven looking down on me. He is now happily united with his wife Ruth. My husband and I send our condolences to all his family for their great loss. He will be greatly missed by everyone.
Amanda Kostran
January 3, 2016
Uncle Clate was my great uncle and a great man. We were closer to him than most people are to their great aunts and uncles and often visited with him and played cards. He was always very alert and smart and competitive when it came to the card games, he was tough to beat. He was always very kind and generous to our family and since my grandparents lived in Florida, him and Aunt Ruth were great reminders of them to me. I always felt a special bond with both of them and loved them very much. Uncle Clate will be missed but he is truly and angel and I know he won't be far. My condolences to the family.
Thomas Steinwachs
January 3, 2016
Rest in Peace Dad, We love you
Mark Steinwachs
January 3, 2016
My Uncle Clate would have given you the shirt of his back. He was a major part and influence in my life along with his wife, my Aunt Ruth. When my parents were gone for the summer, they would have me over for dinner exactly at 5 p.m. Gifts and greeting cards were often given to me, even when it wasn't my birthday. They were big supporters of my interest and endeavors. AS my father's 2nd oldest brother, he married my mom's 2nd oldest sister so we were at many family functions together as I grew up. The memories will last forever. Even though I will miss him beyond words, I know that because of his faith and devotion to God, he is now and forever with our Lord in Heaven!! It is the end of an Era. My condolences to Dave, Ann, Tom, Carl and Joe and his many. grandchildren. Love you Uncle Clate and Aunt Ruth!!!
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