Gilbert R. Steele

Name of Deceased	Gilbert R. Steele
Age	86
Date of Death	01/15/2021
Date of Birth	02/28/1934
Funeral Home	Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral and Cremation Services

Gilbert R. Steele Jr., Colonel, AUS (Ret), Brigadier General (PA)

February 28, 1934 – January 15, 2021

State College PA – Colonel Gilbert R. Steele Jr. passed from this life peacefully, Friday, January 15, 2021, at Juniper Village Skilled Nursing with family by his side. He was 86 at the time of his passing.

Gil was born in Rochester PA, the son of the late Gilbert R. Steele Sr. and Marguerite Milne Steele.

Gil graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1952. In 1955, he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard where he served proudly 41 years retiring in 1996, Commander 28^th Division Signal Battalion. Upon his military retirement he served on the Board of The Pennsylvania National Guard Association (past president), Indian Town Gap, and the Board of Friends of the PA Military Museum in Boalsburg, PA.

On September 9, 1977, Gilbert married his beloved Dorothy (Dottie) Chechak in Clarion PA.

Gil and Dottie shared 41 years together before she preceded him in death.

Gil worked for Bell Telephone of PA for over 30 years before their reorganization in which he decided to retire in 1984. After a few months of retirement Gil decided he was ready to go back to work and Penn State University hired him in 1983 and he became the Director of Telecommunications from 1984 – 1997.

After retiring again in 1997, Gil and Dottie took up traveling and enjoying their time together. Their travels included adventures like hiking the Grand Canyon more than once, trips to Alaska,  and his “bucket list” following the 28th Infantry Division’s World War II footsteps through Europe, and always making trips to and from their farm.

Gil enjoyed hunting and went on numerous Canadian caribou hunts. He was an avid Penn State fan holding season tickets to Football, Basketball and Hockey; he loved his blue and white. His love of sports also included watching his granddaughters over the years in all of their sports, reminding them always, defense wins games.

Gil loved woodworking and you could always find him turning wood in his shop. He was a member of the State College Wood Turners Association. Gilbert was of the Catholic faith and a member of the Our Lady of Victory Church in State College PA.

 He was a charming gentleman with a sense of humor. He was devoted to his family and his military and he instilled those virtues to his family. He will be forever in our hearts and will be deeply missed. Roll on.

Gilbert is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy C. Steele, his first wife Nancy B. Steele, and his sister Ruth Evelyn Rowse.

He is survived by one brother, David (Nancy) Steele of Wildwood, Florida, one son Guy R. Steele (Tammy) of Shippenville, PA one daughter Diana L. Weaver (Ron) of Julian, PA. Grandchildren Crystal Wagner (Josh) of Shippenville, Guy Steele (Brianna) of Clarion, Brock Steele of Charlotte NC, Rachel Weaver of Julian, and Samantha Weaver of Baltimore MD, along with 4 great grandchildren, Riley, Russell, Grace, and Mason, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Juniper Village at Brookline, Skilled Nursing and the entire staff at The Pines for their wonderful, dedicated care and friendship over the past years.

There will be a private family viewing held at the Mark D. Heintzelman Funeral, State College.

A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 25, 2021, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 820 Westerly Pkwy, State College, PA 16801.

Keeping with CDC guidelines, those attending the viewing and funeral are asked to wear masks and observe social distancing.

Interment will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 25, 2021, at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery with full Military Honors.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Friends of the Pennsylvania Military Museum PO Box 160A Boalsburg, PA 16827

An online guestbook may be signed and condolences sent to the family at www.heintzelmanfuneralhome.com.