GRATIOT - Gerald "Jerry" Milton Steele 70, of Gratiot and beloved husband of 50 years to Barbara "Ann" (Staver) Steele died peacefully in his sleep on Christmas morning (2014) after spending time with his family on Christmas Eve night. Jerry was a great husband, father, and friend to many as he always gave more than he ever received. Jerry could never say "no" to someone in need and will be truly missed.
Jerry was born in Monroe on January 18th 1944 to Milton and Vivian (Wahler) Steele. From birth and throughout his entire life, Jerry was an avid Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packer fan although he never did witness a Cubs World Series victory. His true hobby and passion throughout life was fishing and would go whenever the opportunity presented itself, with whomever asked. As a young child, Jerry spent much of his time (when he wasn't at school) at his dad's garage where he developed into an outstanding mechanic. After graduating from Gratiot High School in 1962, he soon found his true love and married Ann on May 2nd 1964 in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gratiot. Almost immediately, the Steele family expanded with the births of Barb (1964), Tim (1965), and Tina (1966).
In an attempt to support his growing family, Jerry worked several jobs until going into the milk hauling business in 1968. In 1973, Steele and Anderson Trucking purchased "Steele's Garage" where Jerry put his expertise to work maintaining the company's bulk and semi-trucks while simultaneously operating a successful garage. Jerry was always willing to go the extra mile and helped everyone that asked and many times without even asking for payment. After the business dissolved a few years later, Jerry was back in the milk hauling business until he sold it in 1990 and returned to his true passion as a mechanic and re-opened "Steele's Garage" at a different downtown Gratiot location. He would soon gain the Blackhawk School bus maintenance contract were he would maintain it until he sold the business to DB&T in 1999. From 2000, until the time of his death, he would continue to work as a mechanic but his true passion evolved into spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be especially missed by Sadie and Audrey as they are still too young to know "Grandpa" is not coming back to play.
Besides Ann, Jerry is survived by his children Barbara L (Steele) Reynolds and her husband Steve, Timothy M. Steele and his wife Denna, Kristina M. (Steele) Brown and her husband Donnie, his sister Patricia (Steele) Anderson, and brother, Richard Steele. He has 8 grandchildren; Leah (Reynolds) Stocks, Payton Collins, Brittany Collins, Christina Ortiz, Andrew Steele, Jordan Steele, Sydney Steele, Sadie Brown, and 4 great grandchildren Audrey Stocks, Taylor Ortiz, Tristan Ortiz, and Gabriel Ortiz.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend Jerry's Remembrance Get Together at the Gratiot Community Center on Saturday, January 3rd from 1:00-3:30 pm. The burial will immediately follow at the Methodist Cemetery in Gratiot. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with his family at www.hermannfuneralhome.com.
Jerry was born in Monroe on January 18th 1944 to Milton and Vivian (Wahler) Steele. From birth and throughout his entire life, Jerry was an avid Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packer fan although he never did witness a Cubs World Series victory. His true hobby and passion throughout life was fishing and would go whenever the opportunity presented itself, with whomever asked. As a young child, Jerry spent much of his time (when he wasn't at school) at his dad's garage where he developed into an outstanding mechanic. After graduating from Gratiot High School in 1962, he soon found his true love and married Ann on May 2nd 1964 in St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Gratiot. Almost immediately, the Steele family expanded with the births of Barb (1964), Tim (1965), and Tina (1966).
In an attempt to support his growing family, Jerry worked several jobs until going into the milk hauling business in 1968. In 1973, Steele and Anderson Trucking purchased "Steele's Garage" where Jerry put his expertise to work maintaining the company's bulk and semi-trucks while simultaneously operating a successful garage. Jerry was always willing to go the extra mile and helped everyone that asked and many times without even asking for payment. After the business dissolved a few years later, Jerry was back in the milk hauling business until he sold it in 1990 and returned to his true passion as a mechanic and re-opened "Steele's Garage" at a different downtown Gratiot location. He would soon gain the Blackhawk School bus maintenance contract were he would maintain it until he sold the business to DB&T in 1999. From 2000, until the time of his death, he would continue to work as a mechanic but his true passion evolved into spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren and will be especially missed by Sadie and Audrey as they are still too young to know "Grandpa" is not coming back to play.
Besides Ann, Jerry is survived by his children Barbara L (Steele) Reynolds and her husband Steve, Timothy M. Steele and his wife Denna, Kristina M. (Steele) Brown and her husband Donnie, his sister Patricia (Steele) Anderson, and brother, Richard Steele. He has 8 grandchildren; Leah (Reynolds) Stocks, Payton Collins, Brittany Collins, Christina Ortiz, Andrew Steele, Jordan Steele, Sydney Steele, Sadie Brown, and 4 great grandchildren Audrey Stocks, Taylor Ortiz, Tristan Ortiz, and Gabriel Ortiz.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend Jerry's Remembrance Get Together at the Gratiot Community Center on Saturday, January 3rd from 1:00-3:30 pm. The burial will immediately follow at the Methodist Cemetery in Gratiot. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with his family at www.hermannfuneralhome.com.