Elaine P. Steinbrueck

1931 - 2019

Elaine P. Steinbrueck

Elaine Pearl Worden was born in Raymond, Washington on November 10, 1931. She died on January 13, 2019 of natural causes at Columbia Lutheran Home in Seattle, with her children by her side. Elaine grew up in Seattle's Rainier Valley, attended Dunlap Elementary and graduated from Franklin High School in 1949. During the Depression years and beyond, her mother, Elna ran a neighborhood hair salon, "Modernette Beauty Shop" out of the family home on S. Wildwood Lane. Her father, Travis "Tad", worked as a freelance graphic artist and later as a clerk for Boeing. He imbued Elaine and her younger sister Beverly with his love of music, poetry, and art. As a teenager, Elaine felt different from other girls and had her own unique style. She wore her long dark hair in braids, danced to ethnic music, and loved horseback riding. Elaine's early passions were for art, world music and dance. She went on to study art and French at Cornish School of the Arts, and later graphic arts at the University of Washington. She was an accomplished portrait artist and poet. In life, she was free-spirited with a flair for the dramatic. Elaine lived in, and for the moment and engaged gregariously with people of all creeds and colors. In 1950, at age 19 she married architect Victor E. Steinbrueck.

In the mid 1960's, Elaine worked in Seattle's Central District as a community outreach worker under the Model Cities Program.

Elaine is survived by her children: Matthew, Lisa, David & Peter, niece Lori and nephew Derek Hamilton, and grandchildren Aleph, Orion, Korinne, Trevor, Marina, Conrad, Victor, Kirra, Mason, and Benjamin.

The family thanks the wonderful staff at Columbia Lutheran Home for their kindness, care and many warm moments they shared with Elaine. She is missed dearly by her family and friends.