Omar Floyd Steenbergh

Omar Floyd Steenbergh Jr., age 89, died Saturday May 15, 2010 at Henry Ford Hospice of Warren. Omar was born May 9, 1921 in a house on Lumpkin Street in Detroit to the late Omar Floyd Steenbergh and the late Nora Mae Justice. He was a life long resident of Warren and fondly called the neighborhood he resided in the sub. Omar worked many different jobs in his lifetime for companies including Brown Lumber, Courier Lumber, Garvaglia Construction Company, Chrysler as a night truck driver and Macomb Community College as a laborer operator. He retired from B&V Construction of Novi in 1980 where he was a low-boy truck driver. Omar married Margaret Jane Diehl (Peggy) on June 17, 1947 at Guardian Angel Church in Detroit. After he was married, he and Peggy lived in a tiny travel trailer that slept two and parked it at Uncle Floyd Steenberghs house, right across the street from their future home. He began building his house on Sherman Street in 1948. When he came home from his job, he would always work on the house. Almost the entire house was built with donated goods. He loved the house more than anything else in the world. He once said that it was his dream home and that he was indeed, living his dream. Omar traveled all over the world when in the Merchant Marines during WWII. Because of this, he had no desire to travel outside of the U.S. once he finished serving. Omar also fought while in the Merchant Marines and claims he boxed against the Elias brother twins who were also amateur boxers. He had won a title in New York, but his trainer encouraged him to stop fighting because his arms were too short. In his later years when his family would walk into any restaurant in south Warren, people would tell stories of how rough the Steenbergh boys were in the old neighborhood. Nobody with any sense would test their luck and fight against them. After his wife Peg passed away on December 10, 1969, after a long battle with cancer, he became a social butterfly along with some of his brothers. You could catch them at the Eagles Club and local bars. He cooked large pots of delicious spaghetti, chili and huge meatloaf dinners to feed his family. He thought of his family as enormous eaters, when in truth, many friends enjoyed helping out by eating the chili or spaghetti before Omar came home from work. Aside from cooking, he also loved to dance. All around, Omar was a very outgoing man, sharing good times with family, friends, and his neighborhood. Omar was a good father and husband. He loved to grow a garden and always had beautiful rose bushes. He seemed to have a green thumb and even in his 80s he had many pots of flowers on the porch of his house. He was a man that was rough on the exterior and barked orders. His granddaughter Brandee affectionately referred to him at Grandpa Grumpy when she was a toddler. In his earlier days, Omars children would jump up from whatever they were doing and quickly straighten up the house whenever they heard the low-boy diesel truck turn into their neighborhood. Omar had a spiritual side as well. He was a member of Ascension Catholic Community in Warren. His family always ate dinner together each evening and prayed before each meal. They would also gather around the couch at night and kneel, saying their prayers. As an amateur football player, Omar would always pray that nobody would get hurt during a game; a tradition that continues with his family today. Omar has lived a full and interesting life, made many friends along the way and will always live on in the hearts of his family. He was always there to help in any way he could. Omar will be greatly missed by all who knew him, especially by his loving family. Omar was the beloved husband of the late Margaret (nee: Diehl). He was the dear father of Michael (Kathryn), Omar (Jo Ann), Mark (Lisa), Cathy Wilson, and Patrick (Carol). Proud grandfather of Brandee, Jeffrey, Scott, Jaclyn, Jennifer, Jody, Matthew, Brent, Chloe, Marissa, John Wilson, Curtis Wilson, and Alan Wilson. He was the great grandfather of Tyler, and Clara Wilson. Brother of Frank Fremont, Leon Charles, and Rose Lee Marian. He was predeceased by his siblings Louella May, Floyd Lyle, Adrian Roy (Abe), Alberta Grace, Lionel George, Frieda Jane, Marjorie Myrtle, Everett William, Ivan Milford, Rodney Clifford, Virginia Eileen, Gladys Joann, and Reva Jean. Visitation for Omar will be held on Monday from 2-9 pm with a 7 pm Scripture Service at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 Mile Road). Omar will lie in state on Tuesday at 9 am until the time of his Funeral Mass at 9:30 am at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Officiating the Funeral Liturgy will be Rev. Fr. Roman Pasieczny. Burial will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery on Wednesday. Donations are appreciated in Omars name to the Parkinsons Disease Foundation. Please share memories of Omar at his Guest Book.