Ronald Bernard Steinauer

Ronald Bernard Steinauer August 20, 1922, to June 2, 2013 Ronald Bernard Steinauer was born August 20, 1922, in rural Pawnee County, the eldest son and third of eight children born to Ernest R. and Frances M. (Rucker) Steinauer. He graduated from Steinauer High School in 1940 then moved to South Omaha. During World War II he served in the 13th Airborne of the U.S. Army from 1943-46 in the European Theater of Operation. He married Helen L. Atterbury on March 1, 1946, and they were the parents of five children. The family lived in South Omaha, Ralston, Lexington and, for 47 years, on 60 acres north of Gretna near the Elkhorn River. Ron worked carpentry and construction jobs for a number of companies and was a superintendent for Hawkins Construction Co. for three decades. The Omaha skyline is a testament to his life’s work; he supervised many large projects including the City County Building, Gross High School, the Northwestern Bell building, Eppley Airport terminal, the "Awful Tunnel,” U.S. National Bank, Hardin Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and many others. He retired in 1987. Ten years later, he and Helen moved to Gretna, where they volunteered with Meals on Wheels and attended daily Mass. He and Helen traveled often with their close friends. He enjoyed being outside, tending his vegetable garden, playing in pitch clubs and other card games, and happily inhabiting the center of his growing family. A voracious reader with an inquisitive nature, he read the newspaper from cover to cover every day and wore out his well-studied collection of maps from National Geographic magazine. He was a kind host, nourishing his guests with good conversation, plentiful food and desserts. Especially desserts, as anyone who ever sat at his kitchen table and was presented with candy, ice cream or Oreos certainly knew. There was a reason his great-grandchildren lovingly called him Grandpa Milkshake. He told engaging stories of his youth, his work, his friends and his travels with a vigor and attention to detail that no one else could begin to replicate. He believed strongly in the Lord. He had an enduring faith in the Catholic Church and in the sacrament of marriage. In their 67 years together, he and Helen taught their children and grandchildren that marriage is a partnership and in all that you do and in all you experience, you are in it together. And you have to laugh. A lot. Ron died peacefully on Sunday, June 2, 2013, at his home in Gretna, surrounded by his wife and children. He is survived by his wife, Helen; two sons, Ronald F. and his wife, Ona, of Omaha and Steven J. and his wife, Diane, of Seward; two daughters, Judith L. Schlife and her husband, Stephen, of rural Lincoln and Kathleen J. Smith and her husband, Steven, of Lincoln; 19 grandchildren and spouses; 18 great-grandchildren and one on the way; two brothers, Bill Steinauer and his wife, Lois, of Omaha, and Clement Steinauer and his wife, Mary, of Tecumseh; one sister, Sheila Schlaebitz of Gretna; one brother-in-law, Bill Bovick of Omaha; two sisters-in-law, Rose Mary “Peggy" Steinauer and Mary Ann Steinauer, both of Omaha; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law; one son, David A.; two sisters, Maureen Bovick and Joan Monzingo; two brothers, Nick and Ernest Steinauer; two brothers-in-law, Rex Monzingo and Bruce Schlaebitz; one granddaughter, Andrea Nowling; and one brother-in-law, Wayne Atterbury. Those of us who knew and loved Ron will miss him dearly, but we are grateful for his kindness, his wit, his exceptional work ethic and his joy of life, which live on in all of us.

Ronald Bernard Steinauer

August 20, 1922 - June 2, 2013