Donald H. Steinke

Donald Harold “Don” Steinke, age 90, of Waukesha, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 17, 2026. He was born in Milwaukee on April 28, 1936, the son of Harold and Anita (Protzman) Steinke. He graduated from Milwaukee Boys Technical High School in 1954 and served in the US Army from 1955-1958 achieving the rank of Sergeant while spending time in Korea and Japan.

Don and Barbara Steinke (Cox) married on November 22, 1960, in South Milwaukee after meeting on a blind date three months earlier. Raising their three sons in Sun Prairie, Don made certain each attended college—an opportunity he never had. Their partnership lasted 47 years, until Barbara’s sudden death on June 17, 2008, at age 70.

Faith shaped and defined his life. Don and Barb shared a calling early in their married life to build church communities. In West Bend, they helped start Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in a VFW hall. After moving to Greendale, they help start The House of Prayer mission church. After settling in Sun Prairie, they joined Bristol Lutheran Church and later Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison where Don served in a variety of volunteer positions.

After retiring from American Family Insurance in 2001 the couple moved to Waukesha to be near family. They became members of Ascension Lutheran Church and Don kept busy stocking shelves at the Waukesha Food Pantry, volunteering at Meriter Hospital and attending every event his nearby grandchildren participated in. He stayed closely connected to his four grandchildren, a steady presence who called often and cared for them deeply.

Don loved doing anything and everything with his family and did not mind being the center of attention. He also enjoyed reading Louis L’Amour (his collection topped two hundred books), fishing, gardening, woodworking, cribbage, collecting antiques including his collection of antique woodworking planes, eating his son’s BBQ, and cheering for the Packers.

Don is survived by his three sons, Bill (Teri) of Raleigh, N.C., Jay (Jenni) of Waukesha, and Ross (Lisa) of Naples, Fla.; four grandchildren, Samuel, Noah, and Ava of Waukesha and Tadgh of Naples; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and the extended family descended from Herman C. Steinke. He was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife Barbara and his sister, Sue Gering.

Funeral services will be Tuesday November 3rd at Ascension Lutheran Church, 1415 Dopp St., Waukesha. Visitation will start at 10:00 a.m. followed by a service at 11:30, lunch reception 12:30-1:30 and burial afterwards at Prairie Home Cemetery, Waukesha.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ascension Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.