Richard J. “Dick” Steinmetz, age 78 of Minerva Street, Tiffin, Ohio, died at 3:18 pm, Wednesday, July 1, 2009 in the emergency room at Mercy Hospital of Tiffin. He was born on November 4, 1930 at 247 Hedges Street in Tiffin, the son of the late George R. and Ursula M. (Niederkohr) Steinmetz. He married Anne M. Fleck on April 21, 1951 by Fr. Timothy Downey in St. Mary Church, Tiffin and she survives.
Other survivors include two sons, Mark A. (Dorothy) Steinmetz of Tiffin and Matt D. (Diane) Steinmetz of Fostoria. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Nathan, Eric, Jessica and Kelli; and two great grandchildren, Aiden and Adison and a sister, Rita M. (Auda) Moyer of Tiffin.
He is preceded in death by two brothers, John Robert and George J. and an infant sister, Helen, who died shortly after birth.
Richard attended St. Joseph Grade School and was a 1948 Calvert High School graduate. He served in the United States Navy from 1951- 1955 during the Korean War in both the 6th Fleet and the 7th Fleet. He became a member of the Tiffin Fire Department in 1956 and served as regular firefighter, and through competitive exams he attained the position of mechanic and later, the rank of Captain in 1966 and Deputy Chief in 1978. He retired after 36 years in 1992.
Richard authored the book, “History of the Tiffin Fire Dept. – 150 years 1843-1993” He also had written extensive genealogical research on the Steinmetz, Niederkohr, and Fleck families.
He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, the Seneca Historical Society, the Seneca County Genealogical Society, the Knights of Columbus, and he was a member and past president 2005-2006of the Tiffin Lions Club. He took great interest in local history, genealogy, photography, and traveling with his wife on one-day and somewhat extended trips to historic sites in Ohio and Civil War battlefields. In his earlier years he enjoyed camping and fishing on Lake Erie with his family and trips to the White Mountains. He was a great storyteller and loved a good joke. He also enjoyed a simple evening trip looking for deer.
He loved his wife, Anne, dearly and was very, very proud of all of the many years she devoted to her volunteer work with kindergartners and in her later years teaching 7th grade arts and crafts at St. Mary School as well as serving faithfully in the Women’s choir and the Folk Choir.
Richard was very proud of his two sons, Mark and Matt, both self-made gentlemen. He loved his grandchildren and his great grandchildren and hoped for the best for all of them.
Visitation with the family will be on Friday, July 3, 2009 from 2-4 & 6-8 pm, with a Wake Service at 1:30 pm at Traunero Funeral Home, 214 S. Monroe Street, Tiffin, Ohio, 44883 419-447-3113.The Tiffin Lions Club will meet at 7 pm Friday evening.
Prayers will be said at 9:30 am, Saturday, July 4, 2009 at the funeral home followed by the funeral Mass at 10:00 am at St. Mary Catholic Church, officiated by the Rev. Gary Walters. The Rosary will be recited 20 minutes prior to the Mass at the church. Burial will follow immediately in St. Mary Catholic Cemetery. The United Veteran’s Council of Seneca County will perform military rites at the graveside.
Contributions may be made to Seneca County Humane Society, Tiffin Fire Department Toy Fund, and St. Mary Church in care of Traunero Funeral Home.
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Richard Steinmetz Memorial Video from Richard Traunero on Vimeo .