In loving memory, Van Steinke

June 14,1957-January 25,2025
Van K. Steinke
Van Steinke, longtime Fremont County resident, beloved father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away while staying with friends in Cowley, WY, on Saturday January 25,2025 at the age of 67.
Van was born on June 14, 1957 in Lander ,WY to Jack P. Steinke and Katherine (Lewis)Steinke. The youngest of five children.
The family moved to Pinedale, WY in 1958 and then to Dubois WY in 1964 where Van started school and then graduated from Dubois High School with the class of 1975. Van married Billie Sealy in July of 1976. They later divorced. Four children were born of this union.
Right out of high school, Van went to work, logging the Shoshone National Forest for Wind River Logging. Logging would forever more be in his blood. In 1978 he went to work for Rocky Mountain Geophysical as a land permit man, negotiating with landowners in the Rocky Mountains, from Montana all the way to Texas,securing the necessary permits and rights to access and develope land for oil and gas exploration. At 19, he was the youngest permit man in the history of the industry and still holds that honor! He got plenty of helicopter and "juggy" time as well.
After that he returned to his love of logging, working once again in Dubois , in the Lander area and on Green Mountain. He then moved his family to White Sulfur Springs MT where he logged for a few years before going to Alaska in 1987 where he logged in Kodiak, Afognak Island, Valdez, the Kenai Peninsula and Ninilchik. He returned to Wyoming in 1999 and began operating heavy equipment for Oftedal and Sons and Wilson Brothers Construction for a number of years.When severe health issues disabled him, he was forced to retire in 2008. The call of the woods was too great,however and he spent 12 years working, off and on, for his good friend ,Ronnie Eliasen, operating a limber in the woods. When he could no longer climb the ladder to the cab, he retired forever in 2022, with a broken heart.
Van loved the outdoors and exploring the Wind River mountains. He enjoyed hunting,fishing, metal detecting and especially rock hunting. Scouring the high plains areas around Lander and all areas around Dubois, with a special love for Wiggins Fork, he always found a "keeper".
Van was an amazing artist working in all media. His art work is literally scattered all over the United States, from Alaska to Texas. Montana to Georgia. He designed silk screens for clothing and was commissioned to illustrate calendars and books. His last project was 3 years ago when he illustrated a children's book called "The Green Flamingo" written by Mary Ann Stetson, which was published lastyear.
In 2019 he was introduced to a little gal, by Joe and Joy Bain. Her name was Maude Barker Bain. It was love at first sight! His heart had been stolen by the smartest, most beautiful, energetic little Idaho Shag puppy in the world. She became the light of his life, filling his life with joy and she kept himgoing when he didn't think he could go any longer.
In 2012 Van made the most important decision of his entire life. He entered into a relationship with his Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ. He pursued Him with all that he had and shared that commitment with many friends and family. He was baptized on October 15,2023. It was his greatest desire to lead as many into God's kingdom as he could before he left this world.
Van is survived by son Casey
Steinke, of Dubois, and granddaughters Taelyn Elhke, Marleigh Steinke and Maddy
Puklich and great grandchildren
Owen Lee, Ettie Lee, Opal Lee and Ender Lee; son Cash (Kristin) Steinke of Helena,
Mont., and grandsons Ollie and
Hendrix; son Chase Steinke of
Carlsbad, N.M., and grandchildren, Georgia, Van and Paisley; daughter Aundee Steinke, of Dubois, and grandchildren Ayla Halpin, Arlo Halpin and Archie Halpin; brother Jon (Becky) Steinke of Hudson, Wyo.; sisters Ardie (Mark) Hickerson, of Lander, Wyo. and Sue Peterson, of Dubois; brother in-law Woody Kelley, of Dubois; uncle Jim Lewis, of Hudson, Wyo; and Numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Katherine Steinke and sister, Christy Kelley, grandson, Iver Steinke, and Brother-in-law J. Scott Peterson.
Cremation has taken place and a public celebration of life will be held early next summer at a date to be announced, in Dubois WY. He will be interred at the Dubois cemetery and on the waters and the wind of the Wind River Mountains.