Obituary of Robert Smith Steiger

Robert Smith Steiger, 74, of Enfield Connecticut went home to be with his savior on October 31, 2006. He lost his brave battle to cancer of which he was diagnosed over a year ago. While he was a resident of the New England area for nearly 50 years, his heart was always in Amsterdam where he spent most of his childhood years. Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania on July 14, 1932, he was the son of Eugene and Edith Smith Steiger. He was the 4th of 8 children and attended various schools in the Amsterdam area including Wilbur H. Lynch High School and Canajoharie High School. He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1951-1955, during the Korean War. He and his wife of nearly 50 years were married in Amsterdam on December 2, 1956. Shortly thereafter the newlyweds moved to the New England area to find work and start their family. He worked for over 30 years as a machinist and tool and die maker at Hamilton Standard, a division of United Technologies. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Enfield for nearly 40 years. He served there as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, AWANA leader, VBS craft teacher and in many various maintenance and building capacities until his health began to decline. But most importantly he was a loving and giving husband to his wife of nearly 50 years, and a wonderful Godly example to his children. He will always be precious to us and we will miss him tremendously until we meet him on the other side. He is preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, Eugene, and a sister, Edith. He is survived by his wife, Fern Dostie Steiger of Enfield, Connecticut; his sons Robert Georgina Steiger and Ronald Steiger of Enfield, Connecticut; a daughter, Amy Steiger Russ Mierta of Columbus, Ohio and eight grandchildren: Adam, Donna and Melissa of Enfield, Connecticut and Elizabeth, Timothy, David, Sarah, and Rebekah of Columbus, Ohio. He is also survived by three brothers, Henry Steiger, John Steiger and Reinhard Steiger; two sisters, Mary Steiger Sheridan and Amy Steiger Greco, as well as sisters in law, brothers in law and many nieces and nephews. A special thank you to all of Dad?s caregivers especially Community Hospice of Amsterdam, his sister, Amy Greco and his nephew, Mike Sheridan and his wife Evelyn, for all that they have given to our Dad. A Christian service will be held on Thursday, November 2, 2006 at 1:00PM at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam, New York. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Tribes Hill, New York. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday one hour prior to the funeral service beginning at 12:00 Noon at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Enfield, 253 Brainard Road, Enfield, Connecticut 06082. Arrangements are under the direction of the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Ave, Amsterdam, NY. 12010.