Donald L. Steinke

Donald L. Steinke, 88, of Wapakoneta, passed away at 1:27 p.m., Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Wayne Hospital, Greenville. He was born on March 4, 1937 at home to Elmer F. & Irene L. (Gerber) Steinke, who have preceded him in death. On October 31, 1959 he married Catherine E. Griffin, who preceded him in death on December 24, 2023.

Survivors include two sons, Jeffery Allen & Sonya Steinke, of St. Marys and Kirk Douglass & Meredith Steinke, of Celina; son-in-law, Jack Kuhn, of Ft. Wayne; 12 grandchildren, Vanessa & Chris, Rosalie & David, Jonathon & Lashey, Joel, Michael, Emily & Andrew, Jericho, Nichole & James, Shane & Rachel, Chelsey & Josh, Haley & Jeremy, Caleb; 13 great-grandchildren, Tucker, Madelyn, Edison, Hudson, Caden, Carson, Tyler, Elyse, Aria, Brooks, Bennett, Hayes, Stella; 5 siblings, Kenneth Steinke, Pat (Bill) Schuler, Gary (Paula) Steinke, Judy (Denny) Werling, Doug (Shelly) Steinke; and an extended family of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Angela L. Kuhn; and son, Allen L. Steinke.

In 1956 Don graduated from Blume High School and got busy working. Growing up on the farm meant he had various jobs there, but he also spent some time driving truck, working at the Wapak Machine Shop, and even did construction on I-75 as it was being built. However, he was most proud of his career with Ford Motor Company. There he started on the line, but was sent to school to become an electrician and continued learning throughout his 44 years of service.

Don became interested in bees when a swarm of them gathered on his dad's tractor. After reading and research, the first honeybees of Steinke's Bee World were purchased in 1964. Don and his wife ran a busy and successful bee yard, with their honey making its way to surrounding communities and even to Florida. He was dedicated to his bees, at one point having the largest population of livestock in Auglaize County, with over 500 hives, an estimated 50,000,000 bees.

Steinke's Bee World connected Don with others, eventually creating the Wapak Farmers Market. Every Saturday, he was committed to manning his honey stand, informing others on all the benefits of honey. Following retirement, he and Catherine began hibernating for the winter in Leesburg, Florida while the bees hibernated at home. There he kept busy with his rental homes and boat dock. Hard worker doesn't even begin to describe Don. Refusing to sit still, he was constantly moving and most happy working. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Freyburg.

Funeral services will begin at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, November 15, 2025 at Schlosser Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Wapakoneta. Deacon Rick Westbay will officiate and burial will follow in St. John Cemetery, Freyburg. Family and friends may visit from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Everhardt Hospice or Wapak Farmers Market.