Obituary of Harland Dean Steinke

********Note--the family has requested that the graveside service be changed to a funeral service at the funeral home with a graveside to follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Hugo, Colorado. Please note the venue change and time change under the service information tab.******** Harland Dean Steinke passed away January 2, 2017 just 7 days shy of his 85th birthday. He was born in Hugo CO on January 9th 1932. He graduated from the Lincoln County public school system in 1949 at the age of 17. He matriculated to college playing football for Colorado A&M in Ft Collins CO before being drafted into the United States Army stationed at Fort Leonard Wood MO in 1952. After bravely serving his country he began his career with the Union Pacific Railroad. He was part of what he referred to as his beloved “bridge gang” which included his brother Kenny and some of what became his closest friends for life. He retired from the railroad in the early 1980’s to care for his aging parents and settled into his retired life in Hugo, CO. He farmed a small plot of land outside of Hugo and tended to a very large garden in town. From his harvests in the garden, he was able to win numerous ribbons in the Lincoln Co fair. He also raised animals including rabbits and chicken which provided eggs for family and members of the community. He was one of the most caring and wonderful men that you could be lucky enough to meet. If you were one of his friend and neighbors, then you probably felt his generosity by having him get your mail or by mowing your lawn. If you were part of his family, then you were luckiest of all. He was always there to provide a clean bed, warm shower and a good story. Later in his life, you may just have been lucky enough to have enjoyed a trip to Limon for “soup and salad”. He was predeceased in death by his father Reinhardt F Steinke, his mother Verna “Arline” Steinke-Smith, stepfather Nathaniel Smith, brother Kenneth Steinke, brother in-law George Renck, and his best friend and companion, Fuji. He is survived by sister Janet Renck (Neligh, NE), sister Shirley (John) Heirigs (Norfolk, NE), sister in-law Janet Steinke (Ft Collins, CO), nephew Fred (Pat) Whitebread (Malcolm, NE), niece Melody (Terry) Beck (Norfolk, NE), niece Melony (Randy) Arehart (Neligh, NE), niece Cynthia (Leroy) Yowell (Hugo, CO), niece Kenda (Kirk) Weigang (Ft Collins, CO), nephew Jason Sickels (Albion, NE), and nephew Kevin (Kelly) Sickels (Rapid City, SD). He is survived by lots of great nieces and nephews and beyond. He is also survived by his many cats and a chicken that will miss him dearly.