1928
Gerald
2010
Gerald Steele
November 12, 1928 — November 6, 2010
Funeral services for Gerald Steele of Starbuck will be held Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Fron Lutheran Church in Starbuck, MN. Reverend Paul Johnson will be officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 9:30 to 11:00 at the church. Burial will in Kviteseid Cemetery in Milan, MN. Military rites will be provided by the Milan American Legion.
Gerald Lee (Gerry) Steele died November 6, 2010 in Starbuck, Minnesota. Gerry was born on November 12, 1928 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Roy and Florence (Solberg) Steele. He lived in Olivia, Minnesota until 1938 when his family moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota where he graduated from high school in 1946. Following graduation from high school, during the time of the Korean Conflict, he felt that he should join the Armed Services. He joined the Army National Guard in Hutchinson. The Hutchinson Guard Company (B) was in an engineer corps battalion (682nd Engineer Combat Battalion). He attended Engineer Construction Foreman School in Ft. Blvoir, VA just outside Washington, D.C. for five months where his high scores lead to a letter of commendation from the Minnesota Adjunct Commander of the Minnesota National Guard after his return. During the Korean Conflict, the 47th Infantry Division was sent to Camp Rucker, AL (now Fort Rucker), for training. Gerry had attained the rank of SGT. First Class prior to deployment at camp. After returning to Hutchinson from the service, in 1952, he purchased the Texaco dealership in Hutchinson.
In 1954, Gerry began his formal college education, enrolling in Mankato State Teachers College in Mankato, MN where he majored in Industrial Arts and Art. During college he returned to Hutchinson on the weekends to work in the service station. It was there he met a young teacher, Helen Thorson. Gerry and Helen were united in marriage on July 24, 1955. Following graduation from college, Gerry and Helen moved to Minneota, MN to where Gerry began his teaching career in a new junior/senior school. While teaching in the Minneota Public Schools, he wrote a textbook, Fiberglass Projects and Procedures. During the summers they attended the University of Northern Colorado where they both earned their Mastera�(TM)s Degrees in 1960.
Later, after moving to Minneapolis, Gerry taught in the Orono Public Schools and began taking graduate classes at the University of Minnesota. Gerry received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1967. Following graduation, they moved to Muncie, IN where Gerry began his 25 year teaching career in plastics technology at Ball State University. During his tenure at Ball State, he wrote Exploring the World of Plastics. He also co-authored a third book on plastics which was part of a series of industrial arts books for junior/senior high school courses and contributed a chapter to the Plastics Mold Engineering Handbook.
While at the University of Minnesota, Gerry joined the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). Throughout his career, he was an active member of SPE and served as the President of the Central Indiana Section in 1974 and again in 1986. He was recognized for his service and presented with the "50th Anniversary" S.P.E. Presidenta�(TM)s Award. He was also a Fellow in the Society of Plastics Engineers.
Throughout his life, Gerry had an interest in aviation, taking flying lessons at the Hutchinson airport and later combining that interest with his expertise in plastics he and a partner started a small business, Custom Aircraft Products. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America and served as Scout leader for many years in Muncie. He and his family were active members of Lutheran Church of the Cross in Muncie, IN.
In 1996, Gerry and Helen moved to Starbuck, MN to live "at the lake" and enjoy retirement. He and his wife, Helen, were members of Fron Lutheran church. Gerry loved to spend time in "the shop" doing woodworking projects.
Gerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Helen; two children a�" Tom (Jean) Steele of Chaska, MN and Mary Steele of Edina, MN; grandchildren a�" Nicole and Justin; a sister a�" Sharon (Bob) Sage of Denver, CO. and two nephews a�" Daryl (Kathy) Sage and Jeff (Lisa) Sage. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Florence and an infant brother.
Pallbearers for the service are: Robert Blom, Gary Minor, Billy Thompson, John Thorson, Harvey Titsworth and Hampton Wilmont. Shari Opdahl will serve as organist for the service. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.
Gerald Lee (Gerry) Steele died November 6, 2010 in Starbuck, Minnesota. Gerry was born on November 12, 1928 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Roy and Florence (Solberg) Steele. He lived in Olivia, Minnesota until 1938 when his family moved to Hutchinson, Minnesota where he graduated from high school in 1946. Following graduation from high school, during the time of the Korean Conflict, he felt that he should join the Armed Services. He joined the Army National Guard in Hutchinson. The Hutchinson Guard Company (B) was in an engineer corps battalion (682nd Engineer Combat Battalion). He attended Engineer Construction Foreman School in Ft. Blvoir, VA just outside Washington, D.C. for five months where his high scores lead to a letter of commendation from the Minnesota Adjunct Commander of the Minnesota National Guard after his return. During the Korean Conflict, the 47th Infantry Division was sent to Camp Rucker, AL (now Fort Rucker), for training. Gerry had attained the rank of SGT. First Class prior to deployment at camp. After returning to Hutchinson from the service, in 1952, he purchased the Texaco dealership in Hutchinson.
In 1954, Gerry began his formal college education, enrolling in Mankato State Teachers College in Mankato, MN where he majored in Industrial Arts and Art. During college he returned to Hutchinson on the weekends to work in the service station. It was there he met a young teacher, Helen Thorson. Gerry and Helen were united in marriage on July 24, 1955. Following graduation from college, Gerry and Helen moved to Minneota, MN to where Gerry began his teaching career in a new junior/senior school. While teaching in the Minneota Public Schools, he wrote a textbook, Fiberglass Projects and Procedures. During the summers they attended the University of Northern Colorado where they both earned their Mastera�(TM)s Degrees in 1960.
Later, after moving to Minneapolis, Gerry taught in the Orono Public Schools and began taking graduate classes at the University of Minnesota. Gerry received his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota in 1967. Following graduation, they moved to Muncie, IN where Gerry began his 25 year teaching career in plastics technology at Ball State University. During his tenure at Ball State, he wrote Exploring the World of Plastics. He also co-authored a third book on plastics which was part of a series of industrial arts books for junior/senior high school courses and contributed a chapter to the Plastics Mold Engineering Handbook.
While at the University of Minnesota, Gerry joined the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE). Throughout his career, he was an active member of SPE and served as the President of the Central Indiana Section in 1974 and again in 1986. He was recognized for his service and presented with the "50th Anniversary" S.P.E. Presidenta�(TM)s Award. He was also a Fellow in the Society of Plastics Engineers.
Throughout his life, Gerry had an interest in aviation, taking flying lessons at the Hutchinson airport and later combining that interest with his expertise in plastics he and a partner started a small business, Custom Aircraft Products. He was also active in the Boy Scouts of America and served as Scout leader for many years in Muncie. He and his family were active members of Lutheran Church of the Cross in Muncie, IN.
In 1996, Gerry and Helen moved to Starbuck, MN to live "at the lake" and enjoy retirement. He and his wife, Helen, were members of Fron Lutheran church. Gerry loved to spend time in "the shop" doing woodworking projects.
Gerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Helen; two children a�" Tom (Jean) Steele of Chaska, MN and Mary Steele of Edina, MN; grandchildren a�" Nicole and Justin; a sister a�" Sharon (Bob) Sage of Denver, CO. and two nephews a�" Daryl (Kathy) Sage and Jeff (Lisa) Sage. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Florence and an infant brother.
Pallbearers for the service are: Robert Blom, Gary Minor, Billy Thompson, John Thorson, Harvey Titsworth and Hampton Wilmont. Shari Opdahl will serve as organist for the service. Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in charge of the arrangements.
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