Robert Wasson Steidemann

MADISON - Robert Wasson Steidemann died on Jan. 21, 2016, of natural causes. He was 94 years old. "Bob" was born on Jan. 23, 1921, in St. Louis, Mo., to the Rev. Robert O. Steidemann and Hazel Wasson Steidemann. He was the younger brother of the Rev. Arthur Richard Steidemann and the older brother of sister, Audrey Joyce Partney Steidemann. Both of Bob's parents lost their hearing at a young age and were completely deaf. Bob attended Beaumont High School in St. Louis and the University of Michigan, where he graduated with a forestry degree. At the age of 22, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army. He spent the next two years in different training camps around the United States. In 1945 he traveled to Hawaii on a landing ship tank. Here, he and his battalion rebuilt airstrips and roads on the island of le Shima and Okinawa. Upon returning to civilian life in 1946, Bob joined the United States Forestry Service where he worked as a forester and a management analyst. In 1961 Bob married Elthea Ann Gill in Whitefish Bay, Wis. Bob and "Elth" then moved to Madison and adopted sons, Peter, Stephen and Thomas. Bob retired from the U.S. Forestry Service in 1986, having served them for 40 years. Bob didn't slow down after retirement. He pursued many interests including interpreting for the deaf, public speaking, riding motorcycles, down hill skiing, painting, pottery, tai chi and travels to places such as the Galapagos Islands, Australia, Hawaii and northern Wisconsin. Bob was an active member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Madison for over 50 years. For the past 30 years, he regularly made coffee for the church congregation and did so right up to his passing. Bob is survived by his three sons, Peter, Stephen and Thomas Steidemann; Peter's wife, Chrystina and her children, Bruce and Chella Lebold; Thomas' wife, Lynne Steidemann; his grandsons, Nicholas and Blake Steidemann; nieces, Barbara Steidemann and Jane Shaw Stroup; and his close friend, Bill Wiedenbeck. Bob was predeceased by his wife, Elth in 2006; his sister, Audrey in 2006; and brother, Arthur in 2010. A memorial service will be held for Bob at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2016, at ST. ANDREWS EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1833 Regent St., Madison, Wis. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church.