Duane J. Steiner

Duane J. “Du” Steiner, age 75, of Lancaster, passed away following a short illness on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Atrium Post Acute Care in Lancaster. He was born in Darlington, WI, August 22, 1942 the son of Harold and Phyllis (White) Steiner. Duane was raised with many siblings on the family farm near Fayette, WI, and graduated from Darlington High School in 1960. He married Sharon Mayer in 1963, and from this marriage four boys were born. Duane later married Sharon Emberson on June 8, 1985, and they made their home together in Lancaster. He farmed for many years before being employed as Maintenance Director at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Fennimore. Duane also worked in maintenance and housekeeping for 13 years at the Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster – his favorite job. He was a member of the Bethlehem Evangelical & Reformed Church in Lancaster. You could always count on a smile and a chuckle every time you saw Duane. He was a kind hearted and generous man who was always thinking how to help others. He was known as a “Mr. Fix-it” and would go out of his way to help shovel or plow snow around the whole neighborhood. Duane enjoyed hunting and any time he could be with his family; his eyes would twinkle just talking about them. “Grandpa Du” or “Uncle Du” was a foster parent for over 20 years, and was especially good mentoring teenage boys. Duane spent his free time reading Western novels or watching the Packers, Badgers or Brewers; he would usually plan his weekend schedule around what football games were on.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon; four sons: Jim, Rick (Tammy), Orvin “O.D.” (Angie), and Eric Steiner; a daughter, Carrie (Nik) Wahl; two daughters-in-law: Lynette Gilman and Sandy Steiner; 16 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; 5 siblings: Delbert (Pat) Steiner, Janice Whitcher, Marjy (Terry) Crapp, Barb Ischi, and Carol (Don) Gaulrapp; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Duane was preceded in death by a brother, Charlie; and a sister, Nancy Pilling.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 29, 2018 at the Bethlehem Evangelical & Reformed Church in Lancaster with Pastor Mark Dieter officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Family and friends may call Sunday, January 28, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church on Monday. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Duane J. “Du” Steiner Memorial Fund has been established with proceeds being given to local charities. Martin Schwartz Funeral Home & Crematory in Lancaster is entrusted with his services.