Obituaries

Dean Lewis Steiner, age 68, of St. Ignace, Michigan, died on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey, Michigan. He was born on June 27, 1958, in Petoskey to Lloyd and Marian (Lewis) Steiner.

Dean grew up in St. Ignace and graduated from LaSalle High School with the Class of 1977. During his senior year of high school, he found his homecoming princess, Laurie Lynn Pechta. In 1979, following Laurie’s high school graduation, the two moved to Big Rapids, Michigan, while Laurie attended Ferris State College. Dean and Laurie married two years prior to Laurie’s graduation living in the married housing. During this time, Dean worked at a factory while Laurie attended school.They then moved to Escanaba, Michigan, where Dean worked as a salesman/deliveryman for Bunny Bread. They started their family in 1985, and once their daughter was born, they moved back to St. Ignace to be closer to their families. Dean went to work as a toll collector for the Mackinac Bridge, working his way up to operations manager. He retired after more than 35years with the Mackinac Bridge.

Dean was a member of the Straits Area Sportsmen's Club and Zion Lutheran Church of Allenville, Michigan, where he served as past council president. In his earlier years, Dean was in abowling league and enjoyed basketball and softball games with his bridge buddies.

Dean enjoyed fishing, hunting, especially deer and rabbit, and being outdoors. He always looked forward to his annual spring fishing trip with friends and family to Dog Lake, Canada. He could always be found helping others anytime anyone needed a lending hand. Above all else, Dean enjoyed spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Dean is survived by his wife, Laurie; daughter, Kelly (Chris) Davidson-Adams; sons, Brendon (Shannon) Steiner and Lewis (Jacob) LaVasseur; grandchildren, Annaleigh, Wesley, Nash, Vayda and Summer; sister, Jeanette O’Rourke; brother, Wayne (Karen) Steiner; sister, Janice Steiner; brother, Glen Steiner; brothers-in-law, Robert (Carla) Pechta and Patrick Nelson; sister-in-law, Susan (Kurt) Ney; brother-in-law, William F. (Gwen) Pechta; and several nieces, nephews, aunt, and cousins,who will all miss him dearly.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Marian; parents-in-law, William Wesley and Dorothy Pechta; brother-in-law, Fred O’Rourke; sister-in-law, Barbara Nelson; and brother-in-law, Stephen Pechta.

A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon at Family Life Funeral Homes, 999 S. State St. St. Ignace, MI 49781. The memorial service will follow immediately at 12:00 Noon with a luncheon after that until 3:30 p.m. at the St. Ignace Golf & Country Club located at W223 US-2 West, St. Ignace, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be left to the Parkinson’s Foundation, Attn: Donor Relations, 5757 Waterford District Drive, Suite 310 Miami, FL 33126. In honor of Dean, the family also encourages those who are able to donate blood. Dean was an avid blood donor and was very passionate about the importance of it.