IN MEMORIAM: Lyle N. Steere, 93;

WWII Vet, Highway Superintendent

CHRISTIAN HILL – Lyle N. Steere, 93, a World War II veteran and retired Otsego town highway superintendent, died Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, in the house he built on Christian Hill with his family by his side.

Born in Hartwick on March 15, 1922, he was the son of Kendrick and Mary Elwood Steere. He married Elsie Ruparshek on Sept. 25, 1948, in Cooperstown.  They lived in Fly Creek and Christian Hill during their 57-year marriage until Elsie died June 19, 2006.

During World War II, Lyle served in the Army. He enlisted Sept. 4, 1940, and was in Battery D, 5th Field Artillery, Sackets Harbor, Jefferson County, and Fort Devens, Mass., where the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion was formed. He later went to Camp Blanding in Florida and then to Indiantown Gap, Pa.

In August 1942 he went on the Queen Mary to Scotland, and then to Titworth Barracks near Salisbury, England. After landing in Oran, Algeria, he served in Tunisia, Salerno, Anzio, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland and Central Europe.

At one point he met up with his brother, Nelson, who was with the 2nd Corps Headquarters in England, Africa and Italy. Lyle left Europe in July 1945 after being transferred to the 21st Replacement Battalion Headquarters Detachment, and was honorably discharge Aug. 12, 1945.

During his time of military service he received the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal.

For many years he was a mechanic, and retired in 1982 after serving as highway superintendent for the Town of Otsego.

Surviving Lyle are three sons, Karl Steere (Kathy) and Kendrick of Christian Hill, and Alan Steere (Roberta) of Schuyler Lake.  Also, five grandchildren, Christina Baker (Jamar) of Colorado,  Ashley Luck (Ian) of New Hampshire, Kerry Brown (Kevin) of Colorado, Kyle Steere of Ithaca, and Tyler Steere of Schuyler Lake, as well as great-granddaughters Adrianna, Alexis and Addison Baker and Ava Luck.  Also a sister-in-law, Sophia Culotti of Port Byron, as well as beloved nieces and nephews.

Lyle was predeceased by his wife, two brothers, Stanley and wife, Anne, and Nelson and wife, Margaret, and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home, when the Steere family will be in attendance.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the funeral home, with the Rev. William H. Delia, pastor of the United Methodist Church of Cooperstown, officiating. At the conclusion of the funeral, Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Cooperstown Veterans Club and the state Military Forces Honor Guard.

Memorial contributions may bes made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY  13820.

Arrangements are entrusted to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home.