Louise I. Steele

Louise Ione Steele was born September 26, 1934 in Edgewater, Colorado to Robert and Pearl Thorpe. She was the second youngest of nine children. Louise graduated from La Jolla High School, San Diego California, in 1952. She married John Maurice Steele on July 24th 1955, and they were blessed with four children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. While John was in the Marine Corps and serving his tours of duty in Vietnam, Louise cared for their four children in El Toro California. When John retired in 1970, Louise supported him in moving the family and building a farm in Oregon on sixty acres of undeveloped land. She became an avid gardener and was hostess to many parties with both friends and family. She loved to read, listen to music, and play the organ. She loved God and the Lutheran Church, making sure the family was involved in many aspects of the church community. In John and Lou's final retirement years they moved to Venice, Florida where they enjoyed a warm climate and a home by a lake. During these years, they also had the opportunity to fulfill Louise's dream of traveling the world. They went to Europe, Russia, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, China, Egypt, and finally the Holy Land. Most of these trips were on cruises, where they made wonderful new friends. Louise passed away on March 16, 2011 at the age of 76 and will be greatly missed by John, her husband of 55 years; and children Thomas Steele, Timothy Steele, Rick Steele, and Kelli Steele Adams .