Henry Steinemann

Henry "Hank" Steinemann, age 76 of Freeport, died on Tuesday, July 22, 2003 at his home after a short bout with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 am Saturday, July 26 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Rev. Julius Beckermann, O.S.B. will officiate and Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. will concelebrate with internment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Parish prayers will be Friday evening at 8 p.m. Saint Joseph's Men's Society and the Golden Years Senior Citizens will pray Saturday at 10 a.m. at the church in Freeport.

Henry was born, the youngest child, June 14, 1927 in Melrose, Minnesota to Henry Sr. and Elizabeth (Osterhues) Steinemann. He married Esther Schreifels September 25, 1951 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. They resided in Freeport all of their married life. He was employed as a radiator repairman by Renneker's Garage, which later became known as Humbert Radiator Shop. After 25 years of repairing radiators he left Humberts and began employment at Franklin Manufacturing. After several years he left Franklin and was employed with Melrose School District 740. He started work with the school driving school bus, which he truly enjoyed as he loved being around children. He later became a custodian at the school. He loved to joke around with the students and always said they kept him young. After 15 years of employment with the school district, he retired in 1992. Being unable to sit idle, he came out of retirement and worked part time for the Sacred Heart Parish. Henry was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Golden Years Senior Citizens and the St. Joseph's Men's Society in Freeport.

Henry enjoyed playing cards, old time music and fishing. His greatest enjoyment came from cars. He spent many hours cleaning, polishing, fixing, buying and selling vehicles. He could tell the make, model and year of the vehicle just from the headlights coming down the road.

Henry is survived by his wife of 51 years, Esther (Schreifels) Steinemann of Freeport; four daughters, Joyce Schmidt (Pat) of Lanesboro, Minnesota, Nancy Steinemann of Madison, Wisconsin, Debbie Olmschenk (Mike) of St. Martin, and Wanda Gaebel (Larry) of New Munich; grandchildren, Trich (Schmidt) Powers, Beth and Nick Schmidt, Robin and Brandon Lindmeier, Sarah, Dustin, Westley and Jesse Olmschenk, Maria, Ben, Megan, and Jacob Gaebel; two great grandchildren, Cody and Andrew Powers; sisters and brother, Marie Dullinger (Nick) of Spooner, Wisconsin, Josepha Kerfeld (Lawrence) of New Munich, Loretta Hinnenkamp (Leo) of Sauk Centre, Joseph Steinemann (Aggie) of Sauk Centre and Adella Renneker (Norb) of Freeport; many in-laws; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws; nieces and nephews.

Serving as casket bearers will be Trich Powers, Robin Lindmeier, Maria Gaebel, Brandon Lindmeier, Dustin Olmschenk, Wes Olmschenk, Jesse Olmschenk and Benjamin Gaebel. Serving as cross bearer will be Nick Schmidt and scripture bearer will be Beth Schmidt. Honorary bearers will be St. Joseph's Men's Society. Serving as gift bearers will be Jacob Gaebel, Cody Powers and Megan Gaebel. Sarah Olmschenk will be the lector.