Robert A. Steele

Robert A. Steele, 84, Joplin, Mo., formerly of Nevada, Mo., passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, Mo. Robert “Bob” was born Jan. 13, 1938, in Nevada, Mo., to Luther L. and Elia (Penney) Steele. Bob was united in marriage to MaryAnn Redmile and to this union three children were born, Jennifer, Douglas, and David.

Bob graduated High School in Dupo, Ill., in 1956. He attended the University of Delaware and graduated from the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He was employed by Sentry Insurance Company most of his career and also worked for I.M.I. of Old Saybrook, Conn. Following his relocating back to Nevada, Bob worked at the YMCA where he met Jane (True) Ratts, and they were married Oct. 16, 2004. In August of 2010 they moved from Nevada to Joplin, Mo., where they have continued to reside.

Bob loved making people laugh, and he never met a stranger. He also loved to travel and had been to all 50 states. Bob was a “model railroader” and had a special bond with his stepgrandson, Tyler Allison with whom he shared his model trains. Bob’s love of trains was influenced by his father who was a machinist on railroad steam engines. 

Robert is survived by his wife, Jane, of the home; his stepdaughter, Trudy (Hedges) Holtkamp, Springfield, Mo.; three stepgrandchildren, Matthew Reynolds, Kaylee (Reynolds) Craig, and Tyler Allison; two stepgreatgrandchildren, Paislee and Camdon Craig, all from the Joplin area; two sons, Douglas Steele (Molly), Boulder, Colo., and David Steele (Meenakshi), Falls Church, Va.; and four grandchildren, Maddie, Jessica, Michael, and Cordelia Steele; a brother, Loren Steele, Mound City, Kan.; and a sister, Nova Staggs, Sherwood, Ark. Robert was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Jennifer Steele; a stepdaughter, Brenda (Hedges)(Reynolds) Allison; and a brother, Jack Steele.

Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada, with Father Jim Lile officiating.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.