Donald “Don” Steil, 86, of Fairbank passed away on Wednesday March 11, 2020 at Cedar Valley Hospice House in Waterloo with his family by his side. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday March 16, 2020 at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein with a Fourth Degree Rosary at 3:45 on Monday. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 Am on Tuesday March 17 2020 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Father Paul McManus officiating. Inurnment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein.

Don was born in Emmetsburg, Iowa on April 29, 1933 the son of J R Russell and Grace (Stoulil) Steil. He grew up around Mallard, Iowa and graduated from the Mallard High School in 1951. On August 21, 1951 he was united in marriage to Virginia Manwarren at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Emmetsburg. He then spent one year at the University of Iowa in the ROTC program. After moving to Oelwein Don worked for Interstate power and later Alliant as a Linemen and Technician, after retiring he worked with his son Mike in his blacksmith shop. He was also a volunteer fireman in West Bend and later in Hazleton. Don enjoyed family, vacations, John Wayne Westerns, sharing his knowledge of woodworking, Sunday drives to the river to eat at Bill’s and stopping at Stark’s, helping mom landscape although he never won landscaper of the year award, helping mom feed her never ending flock of welfare birds, being right, practical jokes, enjoying someone else’s bourbon yet spending his money on the cheap stuff, golf, story sharing and asparagus hunting in his children’s yards.  Don was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic church in Oelwein and a member of the Third and Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus both in Oelwein and Fairbank. Don was very active in his life and leaves behind many friends as well as family.

Don is survived by his wife, Virginia of Fairbank; his children, Mike (Linda) Steil of Fairbank, Jeanine (Dennis) Tellin of Maynard, Jim (Kris) Steil of Carrolton, VA, Mary (Jim) Scharnhorst of Denver, IA, Colleen (Jeff) Frake of Cedar Rapids, John (Karla) Steil of Fairbank, Dennis Steil Roseburg OR, Kate (Duane) Taylor of Maynard and daughter-in-law Sandy Steil of Oelwein; twenty-two grandchildren, Missy Steil (Troy Lamphier), Molly Thompson (Jason), Curtis Steil (Shani), Rhonda Cue (Nick), Sarah Kendall (Scott), Raymond Tellin (Jenni), Jacob Steil (Lynsey), Liz Carter (Ryan), Anna Kerns (Blake), Cory Steil (Katie), Sara Ward (Bryan), Ryan Steil (Brittany), Alicia Ernest (Jeremy), Amy Howell (Nick), Adam Scharnhorst (Melinda Fratzke), Josh Steil (Erin Torruella), Blake Steil (Sara), Sean Steil, Nick Steil, Dustin Taylor (Samantha), Nathan Taylor and Jordan Taylor (Lindsey Buhr); three step grandchildren; thirty-five great grandchildren (with one on the way); three step great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; three siblings, Virginia Meade of Webster City, Mike (Esty) Steil of West Bend and Ellen Newburry of Omaha. He was preceded in death by two sons, Danial and Donald, Jr.; four grandchildren, Christopher Steil, Matthew Steil, Michael Steil and William Scharnhorst; three great grandchildren, Blake Steil, Abigal Thompson and Hannah Thompson.