John W. Steele

A Celebration of life will be on Tuesday April 14 at 11am at Baldwin American Legion with a visitation 1 hour prior.

Visitation will be Monday April 13th from 4pm to 7pm at Keehr Funeral Home, Spring Valley.

Private family burial will be at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin at a later date.

John Wayne Steele, age 77, of Beldenville, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at home.

John was born on October 19, 1948 to Wayne and Marion Steele in Wabasha, MN. He was raised in rural Maiden Rock, and he attended Ellsworth High School.

As a young man, he answered the call to serve his country and proudly served in the Vietnam War in the 1st Cavalry Division of the US Army from 1968 to 1970. His time in the military reflected his deep sense of duty and commitment, qualities he carried with him long after returning home.

In summer of 1970, John met Linda Odalen and they were married in June of 1973, celebrating 52 years together. Together they raised three children, Aaron, Amy, and Anna.

Following his US Army service, he built homes for Charles Cudd, Derrick Construction, building large executive homes as a  finish carpenter. He built several homes, including two of his own for his family.

John found happiness in working on many projects for family and friends, whether it was building a work bench, making wooden barn quilts and many other creative wood designs with his skills. Springtime brought maple syrup season with tapping trees, boiling sap, and talking smart with family and friends.  He also enjoyed his hunting adventures including his big mule deer from the Bitterroot mountains in Idaho and his elk and mule deer success in the Big Horn mountains of Montana.

He also was active in his local VVA Chapter 331 events, whether it was cooking pancakes or chicken or trailering the “Huey” helicopter to various parades and events. John and close friends at the VVA would “head west” for an annual golfing trip at their “North Dakota Invitational” to see who could golf the best.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Marion Steele; his sisters Jeanne Steele Sobottka and Kenny Sobottka, Deanna Steele Morrow and Daral Morrow, Norma Steele; brother Larry Steele; grandparents; nephews Daral (Tucker) Morrow, Daniel Morrow, and William Morrow, David Steele and Joselyn Marhoun; his in-laws, Arnold and Hazel Odalen; and his sister-in-law, Beverly Odalen.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda; his children, Aaron Steele, Amy (Chance) DuMond, and Anna (Dustin) Doornink; and his grandchildren, Cal, Spencer, and Kaylee DuMond. He is also survived by his sibling, Mary (Ron) Foley; his brothers-in-law Dewey (Theresa) Odalen, Terry (Sandy) Odalen, and Roger (Nancy) Odalen  and Ron(Mary) Foley along with many extended family members and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, April 14th at 11am with a light lunch following at the American Legion in Baldwin, Wisconsin. Visitation will take place from 4pm to 7pm on Monday, April 13, at the Keehr Funeral home in Spring Valley, WI.  A private family burial will be held at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Cemetery at a later date.

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