James Devon Steinmetz

On March 27, 1930 James DeVon Steinmetz began the first of his 31,667 days of life. In his 86 years, 8 months and 10 days James earned the following ranks and honors. Son Jimmy D. began at the bottom, as most of us do. He was the only child of Ray and Ruth Steinmetz. Despite his parents’ divorce, James was even tempered and radiated a joy that led his stepfather, Reed Woodling, to inquire about adopting him. Brother Five times over, James was bestowed with the honor of this title. Though the time was short, the two weeks each year that James spent with his Woodling brothers always managed to yield baseballs through windows and cookie spoiled meals. United States Marine Corporal Steinmetz finally found his band of merry men, well, if you can call marching cadences, strictly yelled orders and clinically pristine barracks, merry. Husband Jim married Miss Fey Cole. In this relationship as in many others, when Jim was needed he was always there, not only with willing hands, but with ideas. He led his household with compassion and a hammer and nails. Father Dad took this roll very seriously. He made sure to lick each of his daughter’s cookies so that he could eat them all himself. He remembered all of his many cookie spoiled meals and he wouldn’t dare subject Jenny to such a thing. And when she was hurt, he was also quick to remind her that any pain she may feel would feel better before she was married. He did have the experience after all, who was she to argue? Captain A pilot with Continental Airlines, Jimmy ran a tight ship and was really a stubborn son of a gun. Father The second time around was a very different ordeal. It meant teaching his son how to throw baseballs NOT through windows and how to truly love a game that would become an everlasting family pastime. Dad was an inspiration and a role model. He taught Jim how to be a man, a husband, and a father. Husband Jim married Miss Joan Valent. To spend more time with his favorite flight attendant, Jim would order a half a cup of black coffee and a half a cup of black coffee and a half a cup of black coffee...well you get the point. True to his character, he used his position of high ranking husbandly authority to teach Joan how to laugh. Grandfather Opa had six grandchildren, ranging from 29 year old me to Morgan, Erin, Cole, Grady and 5 year old Leela. Opa spent every day of our lives fulfilling the duty of supreme silly goose. He would poke and squeeze our ears and noses, making the oddest of sounds, all impossible to put into words. Opa taught us how to tell when produce was ripe, and at 10 cents a basket he had an army of child laborers to pick berries and macadamia nuts. He bought and built us bikes and he taught us how to ride them; he took us to New York, Hawaii and Boston and he never missed an opportunity to teach us about flight, planes or baseball. Opa loved us without end or compromise and he reveled in the moments that would make us never forget it. Teacher When piloting was no longer an option, James took to teaching a new generation of winged men. At McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, he used his position to foster and show love to young men and women who shared the passion of flight, making lifelong friendships with many who are now pilots all over the world. Great Grandfather In the year of his death Opa became the patriarch of a family with four living generations. In his last days, he spent most of his time asleep in bed, but the ornery old stinker made a point to wake up and hold hands with baby Andee, the newest member of his family. It was the last time he was awake. Memory On December 7th, 2016 James took his final breath. Now he lives on in our memories as the son, brother, marine, husband, father, captain, grandfather, teacher and great grandfather that influenced each of our lives in a unique and undoubtedly goofy way.