Theodore "Ted" A. Steinke

Theodore (Ted) Steinke, 77, passed away peacefully at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center - Appleton on June 6, 2023.

Ted was born in Wild Rose on August 19, 1945 to John and Luella (Lucy) Steinke. He spent most of his life in the Wild Rose area. Ted served his country in the 25th infantry of the Army in Vietnam. When he returned, he attended UW-Stevens Point and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. Ted started his Case Manager work at Waushara County Social Services, where he met his wife, Jeanette. They were married October 12, 1973 and Ted became an instant stepdad to Jeanette's 5 children; he was a caring and good role model to them. He continued his Case Manager career at the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford for 20 years before he retired. 

Ted was very active in the Wild Rose American Legion Post 370 for 53 years. He enjoyed working with the high school students in the Badger Boys & Girls program. He also gave many Memorial Day and Veteran's Day speeches at the Wild Rose High School. Many of those speeches included his favorite poem, In Flanders Field. 

Ted enjoyed all sports and was an especially talented baseball pitcher in his high school days. He almost made it into the Milwaukee Braves but a shoulder injury put a stop to that dream. He still was able to give back to the sport after his retirement by being an assistant coach for about 10 years for the Wild Rose High School boys team and coached the Waushara Legion Summer ball too.  

Ted loved to play cribbage with family and friends, and he and his wife enjoyed participating in cribbage tournaments together. He also loved the outdoors and was an avid deer hunter. He could tell you lots of hunting stories, if you let him. In his younger years, he made many trips to South Dakota to hunt pheasants with good friends and his golden retrievers. Ted joined the Isaiah 58 Church in Plainfield a few years ago and was very active. He enjoyed spending time with his church family and loved the closeness of a small church. 

Ted will be truly missed by his family, church family, friends and his American Legion comrades. He is survived by his five children: Carla Lipke, Connie (David Ainsworth) Brown, Michele (Bill) Marks, Pat (Cindy) Peterson, David (Pam) Peterson, his "4th daughter" Sherry (Scott) Hughes, many nieces and nephews, 16 grandkids, 11 great grandkids, four great-great grandkids, and many cousins. Also survived by many special friends and neighbors. 

He was preceded in death by his parents: John and Lucy Steinke, wife: Jeanette Steinke, sister:  Lois Steinke, brother: James Steinke and grandson: David Peterson.

Full military honors will be held at the Lion’s Club in Wild Rose on Saturday, July 1 at 11 am, with a celebration of life to follow until 2 pm.  All family and friends are welcome to join us for a lunch and to share their memories of Ted.

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