Mr. John M. Steele, 86, of Fresno, CA, went home to be with the Lord on February 11, 2023.

Born to Laura and Richard Steele October 26, 1936 in Fresno, CA, he was the youngest of 10 children and was raised on the family's ranch on Cherry Ave, very close to the home where he would live with his beloved wife and raise his five children. He was proud to be a lifelong Easton resident.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara, and children: Nathan; Daniel and his wife Lea; Blaine and his wife Carolyn; Elizabeth and her husband Greg;  Sara and her husband Christopher; 7 grandchildren: Jack, Caeden, Rylie, Colton, Ben, Declan, Madison (and a grandson on the way); and his sisters Rosemary Rodden, Jeannie Martino, Phyllis Steele, and Therese Ann Bakula. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Charles "Chuck" Steele, William "Bill" Steele, Richard "Dick" Steele, and sisters Geraldine Bombaci and Cecilia Goldthorpe.

John attended what would become Washington Colony elementary school and was a very proud alum of the Washington Union High School class of 1955. Many of his dearest friends were either his classmates or spouses of WUHS classmates and they spent time (and reunions!) together throughout their lives, including in recent years. John (or Jack to many) valued his family and friendships and loved recounting the wonderful (and sometimes mischievous) moments and memories he shared with his friends and siblings.

After graduation John spent one year studying Agriculture at Fresno State before enlisting in the United States Army in 1956. He served as a mechanic, eventually stationed in Butzbach, Germany where he took his family during a Europe vacation to visit and recount his cherished time serving his country. John was honorably discharged from the Army in 1962, and began his life's work in asphalt paving and grading, eventually starting John M. Steele Construction company, which he owned and operated until he (sort of) retired just a few years ago. While his work style was unique , he made many friends through his vocation – from clients to suppliers to subcontractors. On behalf of John, his family would like to thank each and every one of the people who helped him start and then supported his business for nearly 60 years.

When not working, John tended to his work-like hobbies on his ranch - planting and tending fruit trees and vineyards, raising farm animals, tinkering with equipment, moving earth, and teaching his children and grandchildren about everything that grows and moves on the ranch. Time spent with Dad/Papa/Grandpa was typically in lending service or partnership as mechanics, fruit harvesters, animal caretakers, amateur winemakers and olive curers, and when on the rare occasion he was inside the house, ravioli makers and co-conspirators in cooking up something…interesting. Even when he would make the trip to the Bay Area to visit his daughters and their families, he could usually be found in their gardens or teaching his grandchildren (and sons in law) how to properly prune trees.

His primary passion, though, was his faith. John was a devout Catholic and founding member of St. Jude Church in Easton. With his wife, Barbara, and several other families, he helped to build the current church building and its environs to establish a place of Catholic worship in 1967. A church lector, lay board member and member of the Knights of Columbus Council 9153 for 57 years, he helped organize hundreds of church community events. He was elected Grand Knight several times, and was awarded the K of C's highest and most prestigious 4th Degree honor in 2011. The Easton community and local businesses will remember John for showing up at their door regularly to sell a ticket or ten for a charity event for St. Jude that he was involved with planning. We know he was eternally grateful for the consistent generosity he received in his devoted pursuit of support for the church and related charities.

John's children will remember his love of adventure - in his dining, in his solo travels by train, in doing things that seemed beyond the capacity of his health and age, in the stories we heard about his life before we knew him, and in living his life to the very fullest and making plans for what he would like to take on next until his very last breath.

A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, March 2 at 11 AM at St. Jude Church (Rosary at 10:30 am).

In lieu of flowers, please consider remembering John with a charitable donation in his honor to:

The John Steele Memorial Scholarship at WUHS

C/O: Washington Unified Education Foundation

7950 S. Elm Ave.

Fresno, CA 93706

OR

Knights of Columbus Council 9153 in honor of John Steele

C/O: St. Jude Catholic Church