Walter Steinwald

Our beloved father, Walter (Walt) Steinwald was welcomed into the loving embrace of our Heavenly King on January 23rd in Terre Haute, Indiana at 79 years old. After a long a difficult battle. He was too strong and stubborn to let any illness slow him down and just kept fighting on, challenging each new diagnosis. Few have endured the difficulties in life that he had, yet his strength and faith prevailed. He was the toughest man most of us will ever know.

He was born in Sontra, Germany on September 15th, 1946 to the late Pater and Hedwig Steinwald. His siblings, Bronie, Theresa, Helen and Adam Steinwald preceded him in death along with nephews JR and Jerry.

He came to America at 19 years old, speaking no English, aboard the SS Bramah Oben in October of 1965. He knew hamburg ment hamburger and spent the bus ride from New York to Bellflower, California ordering hamburgers on his stops. What a ride!

In June of 1965 he moved to Lafayette, IN, had learned to speak fluent English and met Claudia, born to the late Bill and Anna Platt. On August 12th he proposed and September 16th, 1965 they were married.

God blessed them with 6 children, 22 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews. Walter spent his life trusting in the Blessed Mother and his father's intercession in his life.

He was a craftsman in the truest sense and his skill was unmatched, working for the historical society to restore antique wood trim in Lafayette, building homes and making custom cabinetry. European Builders was his company that dripped with pride, his expertise unchallenged the building trade.

Walter loved to hunt and fish and spent countless hours in the wilderness alongside his children, rabbit or bird hunting. The outdoors brought him such joy. Spending time outdoors with family was Dad's place of peace.

Walter loved our mother as much as any human could love someone. They spent their 59 years of marriage inseparable. Proof of God's divine choices, they were made for one another. He was a dedicated father and grandfather and spent many years working alongside his sons, grandsons and boys he thought of as his own, teaching them to build houses and the value of hard work.

Walter and Claudia have four sons and two daughters, Peter, Gienna, David, Walter, Thomas & Katy.

Peter (wife Joanna, children Jason wife Christen, daughters Madelyn, Kinley and son Ronnie), Peter (wife Erin son Rivers and daughter Violet) and Claudia Lynn (husband Scott and daughter Allison), Gienna (married to Carlos Garcia who preceded him in death, children Carlos( wife Cody and son Elliott), William (wife Miranda, son William and daughter Alaina), Cody and Meghan (daughters Aubriel, Laya & Lani), David (married to Tiffany children Alexzandra, Gunner, LeAnna, and Mariska), Walter (married to Molly, children Eva-Marie and August), Thomas (Married to Megan, children Heidi, Aleksander, Gretchen, and Ivara) and Katy (married to Oliver Children Jacob, Ady, Beckett, Abigail and Maria).

Anyone who knew Walter knew he loved babies and animals, and no one dared correct a little one with him around. He would say "Let the baby alone." The lord blessed Walter and guided him through this life and into His loving embrace. Dad's love will reflect in each of our hearts.

Dad, we know you will be "mit" us in our hearts.

Mass of Christian burial will take place Feb 5, 2026, beginning at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church located at 207 N Washington St. Delphi, IN 46923. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery on the corner of Dayton Rd and Deer Meadows Rd, Delphi, IN. Samaritan Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.