Funeral services for Robert C. “Bob” Steger, age 89, of Brownwood, will be held at 2:00 PM, Tuesday, November 10, 2015 in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.
Mr. Steger died Friday, November 6, 2015 in a Brownwood nursing facility.
Bob was born in Gainesville on March 6, 1926 to Robert and Frankie (Sanders) Steger. He attended Fairfield schools and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1943. Bob attended one semester at Texas A&M before joining the US Army Reserves and was later called up to active duty in March of 1944. He was assigned to the 65th Infantry Division which later became a part of Patton’s 3rd Army in the European Theater. Bob was wounded in a mortar attack in 1945 and was later awarded the Purple Heart. He returned to the States in May of 1946 and was honorably discharged. He immediately joined the Army Reserves after being discharged and was a member for 20 years retiring with the rank of Captain.
Following Bob’s active duty service he returned to Texas A&M where he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in animal husbandry in August 1949. Bob married Mildred Denk on August 17, 1947 in Bryan, after meeting her on a blind date. He later joined Swift & Co. in 1960 and worked in the feed department. The family lived in various locations during Bob’s career with Swift before moving to Brownwood in 1976. He retired in 1982 from Swift after it was merged with the Purina Company.
Following retirement, Bob volunteered with the American Heart Association for several years and joined American Legion Post 308 in Bangs.
Bob is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mildred Steger of Brownwood, a daughter, Debbie Cole of Stephenville, and a son John C. Steger and wife Debbie of Wauchula, Florida; four grandchildren, Jason Cole, Ryan Cole, Stephanie Hernandez and Alysa Neuhauser and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Leta Nell Steger of Houston.
The family requests memorials be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 841125 Dallas, TX 75284-1125 or to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 4086 Sandshell, Fort Worth, 76137.
Condolences, memories and tributes can be offered to the family at heartlandfuneralhome.net.