1922 - 2015
CHRISTIAN HILL - Lyle N. Steere, 93, beloved Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, died October 23, 2015, in the house he built on Christian Hill with his family by his side.
Born in Hartwick on March 15, 1922, he was the son of Kendrick and Mary Elwood Steere. He married Elsie Ruparshek on September 25, 1948 in Cooperstown. They lived in Fly Creek and Christian Hill during their 57 year marriage until Elsie died June 19, 2006.
During World War II, Lyle served his country in the United States Army. He enlisted September 4, 1940, and was in Battery D, 5th Field Artillery, Sacketts Harbor and Fort Devens, Massachusetts, where the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion was formed. He later went to Camp Blanding in Florida and then to Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. In August 1942 he went on the Queen Mary to Scotland, and then to Titworth Barracks near Salisbury, England. After landing in Oran, Algeria, he served in Tunisia, Salerno, Anzio, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. At one point he met up with his brother, Nelson, who was with the 2nd Corps Headquarters in England, Africa and Italy. Lyle left Europe in July 1945 after being transferred to the 21st Replacement Battalion Headquarters Detachment, and received his Honorable Discharge August 12, 1945. During his time of military service he received the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
For many years he was a mechanic, and retired in 1982 after serving as Highway Superintendent for the Town of Otsego.
Surviving Lyle are three sons, Karl Steere ( Kathy) and Kendrick of Christian Hill, and Alan Steere ( Roberta) of Schuyler Lake. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Christina Baker ( Jamar) of Colorado, Ashley Luck (Ian) of New Hampshire, Kerry Brown (Kevin) of Colorado, Kyle Steere of Ithaca and Tyler Steere of Schuyler Lake, as well as great granddaughters Adrianna, Alexis and Addison Baker and Ava Luck. Also surviving is a sister-in-law, Sophia Culotti of Port Byron as well as beloved nieces and nephews.
Lyle was predeceased by his wife, two brothers, Stanley and wife, Anne, and Nelson and wife, Margaret, and several brothers and sisters-in-law. Friends may call at the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, 82 Chestnut Street, Cooperstown, on Tuesday, October 27, 2015, from 4-7 p.m., when the Steere family will be in attendance.
Funeral Services will be offered at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2015 at the funeral home, with the Rev. William H. Delia, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Cooperstown, officiating. At the conclusion of the funeral, Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Cooperstown Veterans Club and the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
