The Reverend Willis H. Steinberg

• He was always happiest when all of his "chicks" (children and grandchildren) were under one roof.
• He loved his wife and believed their marriage vows were sacred.
• He teased mom about being older (by forty days).
• He loved taking the family on vacations.
• He liked being with the Welches (mom’s sister, her husband and family).
• He always gave practical Valentine’s Day presents: deodorant, toothpaste and brush, soap, shampoo, etc…
• He was not a handyman; his idea of fixing things was using a lot of tape.
• He loved Pendleton shirts; he was happy wearing his clerics and was not a fashion plate; he liked snazzy sportcoats and mixing his plaids.
• He always smelled like Brindley pipe tobacco and Aramis aftershave.
• He loved to people watch.

• "It’s only work when you’d rather be doing something else"-he never found anything else he would rather do. He loved being a priest and chaplain.
• He also loved his "other families"- the people of St. Paul’s and the staff of Salem Hospital
• The Bishop called him "Marry’n Sam of the Santiam"; one year he presided at 50 weddings.
• "The fastest checkbook in the West"; he was an easy mark for anyone in need.
• He always had time to listen, and always made time for others. He did not judge people harshly.
• He could always be bribed with pastry or candy. He usually had a stash of candy hidden somewhere in his office (and at home).

• He looked forward to his annual fishing trip to Alaska with his fishing buddies (who are today’s pallbearers).
• His idea of heaven would be days full of fishing.
• Some of his favorite memories were special trips with close friends.
• He loved being host and tour guide, showing off the virtues of Oregon and the Salem area.
• He enjoyed watching Nebraska Cornhusker games with friends.
• He liked Choir Practice, especially the food.
• He enjoyed spending New Years Eve with the same group of friends for over twenty years.

his likes…

• Reading histories.
• Classical music.
• Bacon & eggs and Nebraska steak.
• He never met a pie he didn’t like.
• The beach, especially Cascade Head.
• Family drives (that usually ended up at Dairy Queen).
• His jeep.
• His home, his recliner, his pipe, his nightshirt, and his dog.

• Diet food and diets in general.
• Taking out the garbage.
• French cuisine (the portions were too small).
• Off-color sitcoms and canned laughter.
• Shopping in general, except the 25-cent tables at the Metropolitan Store.
• Anything mechanical or technical, with the exception of the remote control.

Former Hastings resident the Rev. Willis H. "Bill" Steinberg, 73, of Salem, Ore., died Monday, February 12, 2001, in Salem.

Services are 3 p.m. Thursday at St. Mark’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral in Hastings. Burial will be private for the family. Services also are 3 p.m. (Hastings time) Thursday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Salem. Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service of Salem is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Steinberg was born Aug. 11, 1927 to Julius and grace Steinberg in Omaha. On Aug. 15, 1948, he married Barbara Jane Dafoe. He graduated from Doane College in Crete in 1949. He also graduated from Seabury Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., with a master of divinity degree in 1951 and a doctor of divinity degree in 1972. He was ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1951 in Omaha. He served as vicar of Calvary Church in Hyannis, St. Joseph’s Church in Mullen and All Saints Church in Eclipse from 1951-55. From 1955-67 he was Dean of St. Mark’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral in Hastings. He volunteered as vicar at ST. John’s in Harvard and grace Church in Red Cloud. He served as rector of St. Paul’s Church in Minneapolis from 1967-74 and of St. Paul’s Church in Salem from 1974-90. In 1992 he became rector emeritus of St. Paul'’ Church in Salem. From 1990-95 he was director of pastoral care at Salem Hospital in Salem. He retired in 1995 and continued as part-time chaplain at Salem Hospital.

He was a lay member of the Oregon State Bar Association Disciplinary Board and served on various Episcopal Diocesan committees. He also was a member of Rotary International and Scottish Rite. He received the Salem Distinguished Citizen Award in 1989.

Survivors are his wife; three daughters, Mary Ann Kolb of Maple Grove, Minn., Jane Burton of Portland, Ore., and Elizabeth Steinberg of Salem; one son, the Rev. Willis H. Jr. of Raleigh, N.C.; one brother, George Welch of Hastings; and five grandchildren.

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