April 2, 1928 - September 8, 2024
Hans Steigmeier, age 96, of Stratford, passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at Stratford General Hospital.
Hans was born on April 2, 1928 in Manau, Germany. The majority of his youth was spent in Sennfeld and Schweinfurt, Germany. He was educated as a Tool and Die Maker at Fischer Bearings (FAG Bearings). Hans was working at FAG Bearings Schweinfurt when the Allied Forces bombed Schweinfurt in 1944. He and his father both survived hiding out in a bunker at the factory during the raids. He continued to work at FAG Bearings until 1954 when he was made the offer to travel to Stratford, Canada to be part of the initial team to establish a bearing factory. He agreed and at age 26 he made the trip with a basic knowledge of English. The position was to be temporary. This changed quickly and the rest of the family emigrated to Canada in the fall of 1954. Hans was promoted to Plant Manager in 1960 where he held the position until his retirement in 1994. At the time of his retirement, FAG Bearing (now Schaeffler) employed over 1,200 people in Stratford.
Hans met the love of his life, Maria, who came to Sennfeld, Germany from the Ukraine during the Second World War, to work on a local farm. They married November 26, 1949. They were truly best friends and true loves. They were married for 71 years before Maria’s passing on October 17, 2021.
Hans had a voracious appetite for technical journals, historical books and his National Geographic magazines. He loved to tinker around the house and working with Maria in their garden. As a boy he loved soccer and later loved watching the World Cup. Most of all he loved his family and had a deep faith in God.
Hans was the proud father of Gerda (Rick, deceased) Charlton and Fritz (Brigitte) Steigmeier. Cherished Opa of Marc (Jen, deceased) Charlton, Scott (Nella) Charlton, Katie Steigmeier (Andre Lallemand), Chris Steigmeier, Jordan Kelly, Paige (Shawn) Dougherty, Great Opa of Cameron (Chelsea), Dalen, Spencer, Tess, Beau, Ben, Isabella, Michael, Victoria, Max and Quinn and Great-Great Opa of Jayce.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 115 Cambria Street, Stratford, Ontario, on Monday, September 16, 2024 from 1:00 pm until the time of the funeral at 2:30 pm. Interment will follow in Avondale Cemetery. If you would like to view the service from home, please click on the view life stream.
The family would like to thank Darlene Bakker/Glousher of Heartfilled Care, her staff Sharon Tychoniak and Kyle Ford, for the compassion and loving care that they provided Hans for over 3 years, providing exceptional PSW service.
As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and the Rotary Respite House Stratford.
Arrangements entrusted to W.G Young Funeral Home
