Merle C Steele

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Obituary- Steele, Merle

Merle C. Steele
Merle C. Steele, 88, Topeka, died Monday, January 31, 2000, at a Topeka nursing home.

Mr. Steele was a firefighter for the city of Topeka from 193 to 1962, and he served as City Fire marshal from 1962 until he retired in 1965. He also had been a claims adjuster for various insurance companies and he was a finish carpenter.

He was bon Nov. 14, 1911, in Rossville, the son of Loyd and Nettie Lemon Steele. He graduated from Maple Hill High School and he attended Purdue University for arson investigation training. E moved to Topeka from the Maple Hill area in 1933.

He married Gladys Woodward Owen on May 6, 1939. She died in Nov. 1995. Mr. Steele also was preceded in death by a son, Charles Steele in 1997, and a daughter, Patricia Finson in 1993.

Survivors include two daughters, Jackie Gomel and Mary Jo Finson, both of Topeka; three brothers, Norman Steele and the Rev. Carl Steele, both of Topeka and Loyd “Dale” Steele, Denver City, Texas; four sisters, Wanda Godlove, Edna Snook and Ethyl Klass, all of Topeka, and Ruby Blossom, Warner-Robbins, Ga.; 14 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

His service was at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Davidson Funeral Home, Topeka. Burial was in Rochester Cemetery. Relatives and friends met Thursday from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the AWANA of the First Baptist Church, Topeka, and sent in care of the funeral home.