Jack Adrian Steele

On November 1, 1930 Jonathan and Charity Steele welcomed Jack into this world at Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland. Jack grew up in the Metzger and Garden Home communities where he attended grade school. He then attended and graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School where he studied electrical engineering. Jack attended four terms at Vanport College before entering the workforce full time.

After a few summers with the U.S. Forest Service and a few years working for Brooks Scanlon Logging Company Jack began his nearly 42 year career with Pennwalt (later became Atochem). He worked in several different positions within the company and retired as a shipping clerk in 1993.

On October 12, 1952, Jack married the love of his life, Leila Reed. Together, Jack and Leila raised five children, Mark, Ruth, Paul, Joan, and Lisa. He was a kind, gentle, man who was always smiling. Jack did not know how to sit still and enjoyed working with his hands. He built their first home and remodeled others. He enjoyed working on his hobby farm, gardening and camping and hiking with the family. Jack also enjoyed helping others, whether it was helping his neighbors, doing tractor work for someone or serving as an usher or elder at church.

Jack will be missed by his wife of 62 years, Leila of Beaverton; son, Mark (Betty Jo) Steele of Silverton; daughter, Ruth (John) Schmedake of Olympia, Washington; son, Paul (Rowena) Steele of Beaverton; daughter, Joan (Ed) Fegles of Newberg; daughter, Lisa (Brent) Pruhsmeier of Roseville, California; sisters, Wanda Johnson of North Las Vegas, Nevada, and Crystal Buettner of Mesa, Arizona; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three on the way. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Donald and Bruce Steele; sisters, Joyce Chamberlain and June Christiansen; and his parents, Jonathan and Charity Steele.

A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at Skyline Memorial Gardens followed by a memorial service at Laurel Community Church, where he attended since 1968, at 2 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Laurel Community Church, 30640 SW Laurel Road, Hillsboro, Oregon 97123.