Frederic Lauriston Steinke

Fred was born to Frederic and Dorothy Steinke on March 26, 1941. Fred met the love of his life, Karen Lynch, in San Leandro while square dancing, and married her on June 8, 1963. After graduating with a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, Fred joined the Navy as Ensign and served in Hawaii in the Supply Core (as a Fuel Branch Officer). In 1967, Fred and Karen moved back to CA where he started his 34-year career with General Mills.

Fred is survived by his wife, Karen, his 4 children, Andy (Yang) Steinke, Marielle (Bobby) Durrett, Suzanne (Dixon) Steinke, and Danielle Steinke, and 7 grandchildren, Rachael (Will) Loomis, Michael Steinke, Gabrielle, Hannah, and Lydia Durrett, and Finn and Annika Slingerland.

Fred was a loving father who enjoyed spending time with his children by being a Boy Scout leader, softball coach, camping enthusiast, and attending all their many and varied activities. When he became a grandpa, he loved bragging about his stellar grandchildren and their many accomplishments! No one he met was immune!

Fred enjoyed sports and attended many games, especially the Angels. He also had a love of theater and had season tickets for many years to La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, and Fullerton Civic Light Opera.

Fred will be remembered for always having a quote for every situation! Some of his favorites were: “Study nature, not books,” “Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny,” and “There’s no such thing as a bad cookie!” These quotes live on in his family.