Gary J. Steiger, 54, of Atlanta, Ga., passed away on February 10, 2018. Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 2 p.m. CT, at Bayview Fisher Pou Chapel in Pensacola, Fla. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service; a reception will follow the service.
Gary was born in New Jersey in 1963 and he and his family moved to Pensacola when he was 6 years old.
Gary was brought up in the Lutheran Faith and was confirmed in that faith at Grace Lutheran Church, Pensacola, FL.
He became an Eagle Scout at age 13. His Eagle Scout project was the Pensacola Historical Trail in downtown Pensacola. He also achieved the Pro Deo et Patria Award.
Gary graduated from W.J. Woodham High School with academic honors. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a dual Bachelor’s Degree in Pulp and Paper and Chemical Engineering.
Gary was loved by anyone who knew him. He had a wonderful laugh, a sincere smile, and gave comforting bear hugs.
His sister Linda’s daughters, Jena and Cara, knew the love of those hugs well. Gary loved his family and he especially adored his nieces. He danced at Jena’s wedding and he planned to dance at Cara’s wedding in March. He loved visiting his family in Pensacola. Christmas was a special time for him and his family, when Christmas Eve was spent making Cheese Fondue and Meat Fondue, a great deal of fun and laughter. Last Christmas’s Dirty Santa’s gift exchange brought a lot of joy to the entire family.
He loved his many friends. He enjoyed preparing his authentic cheese fondue and a few other signature dishes for them. He enjoyed meeting with friends at favorite restaurants Apre’ Diem, Tasty China and George’s. He loved the Big Green Egg and good steaks. He loved being with his friends and they loved being with them.
He travelled internationally, since a lot of family was on the other side of the ocean and he had a special bond with them. His two Omas (grandmothers) were close to his heart, aunts and uncles and cousins as well. His fun travels through the hashers took him to New Zealand, the Pyramids and Ireland. Argentina and Hawaii were other destinations.
He had a love for Einstein, the Far Side, Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and Monty Python.
He loved the Tick and Berkeley Breathed cartoons. He loved Tom Petty. He loved hashing, Halloween and costumes.
He is survived by his parents, John and Margot Steiger, his sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Gary Reed, his nieces, Jena and her husband Luca Triennese, Cara and her husband Seth Hodges. His Uncle Bruno with Marlene und Gundi, his Aunt Gundi with Jo in Germany and a host of cousins in Switzerland.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Pensacola, FL or the Boy Scouts of America, Gulf Coast Council Pensacola Bay District.
FAMILY
John SteigerFather
Margot SteigerMother
Linda (Gary) ReedSister
Jena (Luca) TrienneseNiece
Cara (Seth) HodgesNiece
Bruno (Marlene) MuellerUncle
Gundi BongardAunt
Host of cousins in Switzerland and Germany
DONATIONS
Grace Lutheran Church
Boy Scouts of America
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