Harry J. "Hal" Steis

VISITATION: Wednesda y from 5-8 PM

SERVICES: Thursd ay at 11 AM at First United Methodist Church

Harry J. "Hal" Steis , 85, of 190 Taft Road, died Saturday, September 24, 2011, six days shy of his 86th birthday, at home while surrounded by his family.
He was born September 30, 1925 in St. Marys, a son of the late Harry Joseph and Ruby Smith Steis.
On July 29, 1949 in Johnsonburg Methodist Church, he married Alice Neilson Steis, who survives.

After graduating from St. Marys High School in 1943, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a signal man aboard the USS Stokes in the Pacific Theater. While engaged in the battle of Iwo Jima, he witnessed the famous flag-raising on Mount Suribachi. Many years later, while visiting his son in the Air Force on Guam, he had the pleasure of meeting Joe Rosenthal, the photographer who captured the event.
He was a co-owner of Thompson Montgomery for 26 years and was also employed by Double Click as a computer repairman in his later years.

A member of the First United Methodist Church, he served in the Methodist Men, on the finance committee, and as a lay leader with the late Rev. Richard Burns.
Hal also enjoyed hunting, especially archery, and enjoyed camping, fishing and traveling in his Avion trailer. He was also a member of the Bavarian Hills Golf Course.

In addition to his wife of more than 62 years he is survived by three daughters, Janet, Mrs. Ron Feile, Titusville, Fla., Sharon, Mrs. Michael Herzing, St. Marys, and Laura, Mrs. James Horchen, St. Marys; two sons, Dr. Ronald Steis and his wife Leslie, Cumming, Ga., and Roger Steis and his wife Doreen, Valdosta, Ga.; nine grandchildren, Amanda Feile, Shelly (Dr. David) Wood, the Rev. Daniel (Johanna) Steis, SSgt. Ahren (Melissa) Steis, Ryan Steis, Adam (Laura) Herzing, Jennifer (Evan) Richards, Emily Herzing, Abigail Horchen; three step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruby Kirkland, St. Marys; and two brothers, Eugene Steis, Dagus Mines, and Jerome Steis and his wife Mary, St. Marys.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Florabelle Feldbauer and Sandra Walker.

Funeral services for Harry J. "Hal" Steis will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 140 N. St. Marys Street, St. Marys, on Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Chris Kindle, pastor, ofi