• Visitation
  • Thursday, March 6th, from 10am – 12pm at St. Veronica Congregation (4001 S Whitnall Ave, Milwaukee)
• Mass of Christian Burial
  • Thursday, March 6th, starting at 12pm at St. Veronica Congregation (4001 S Whitnall Ave, Milwaukee)

Franklin “Frank” Steinke

Frank Steinke, age 88, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 20, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Judy Steinke (née Matte) and a devoted father to Dale Steinke (Doree Armstrong), Brian Brandt (Cindy), Gary Steinke (Cheri), Mark Steinke (Erica Downing), and Paul Steinke (Carrie). Frank was a proud grandfather to Victoria, Michael, Isaac, Alex, Kade, Aiden, and Brinley.

Frank was the cherished son of the late Gertrude Steinke-Madajewski (née Pilarski) and the late Charles Steinke.  Frank was also preceded in death by his brothers Robert Steinke and David Steinke, and sisters Mary Griffiths, Angie (Jim) Szymanski, and LaVerne (Gilbert) Kerpestein.

Frank grew up on Milwaukee’s south side and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1955. He entered the Air Force in 1956 and served for four years, mostly in South Dakota.

On Oct. 16, 1965, Frank married Judith Matte, daughter of Robert and Harriet Matte. Frank was a Boy Scout leader for his five sons and frequently led the family on camping trips across Wisconsin with a fully loaded station wagon and pop-up tent trailer covered with canoes and bicycles held firmly in place by his famous “Steinke knot.” To care for a growing family, Frank tirelessly worked for 37 years at Allen Bradley / Rockwell Automation, where he was a union steward. After he retired, he worked for a time at a Mitchell Field security checkpoint and spent several years crisscrossing southern Wisconsin as a parts delivery specialist for Dodge City.

Active member of St. Veronica community, Frank was a confirmation and RCIA teacher, Boy Scout leader and committee chairperson. He was a league-leading church Dart ball team member (a sport he also played in an Allen Bradley league), a parish council member, and a church festival committee member. Among too many other things to list here, he passed along a wry sense of humor to his boys, a love of the outdoors, the secrets to growing a bounty of tomatoes, and the importance of service to others.

He will also be deeply missed by Judy, his wife of 59 years, seven grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A funeral service will be held at noon on Thursday, March 6, at St. Veronica Congregation, 353 E Norwich St., Milwaukee, WI 53207. Visitation will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on the same day and location. Interment will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Frank’s memory at www.alz.org.