"Our thoughts and prayers are with Dave?s family. Dave was a wonderful guy. Gary will remember Dave in the guards being on Dave?s bowling team and meeting every morning at the gas station for breakfast sandwich?s.??"
In loving memory of
David C. Steger
February 1, 1947 - December 4, 2024
David C. Steger, of Antigo, died on December 4, 2024 at his home under the care of his family and LeRoyer Hospice. He was 77 years old. He was born on February 1, 1947 in Antigo, a son of the late Steve and Minnie (Kluball) Steger. He married Susan Oesterreich on November 19, 1966 at Peace Lutheran Church in Antigo.
He was a graduate of Antigo High School, class of 1965. He served in the Wisconsin Army National Guard from 1966 to 1973. While in the Guard he lived in Milwaukee where he worked construction. He returned to Antigo and owned the Texaco Service Station and tow-truck service. In 1981 he joined the Langlade County Sheriff Department as a deputy and in 1988 he began his 18 years as the Langlade County Sheriff, retiring in 2006. During his tenure as Sheriff, he was instrumental in building the new jail.
David and Sue owned the Wagon Wheel Supper Club in Kempster and Northstar Lanes in Antigo.
He could fix anything, he was a true "MacGyver". David loved the outdoors, NASCAR, hunting, music, history, poetry, and storytelling. He also loved bowling achieving a 300 game on October 7, 2010.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Sue Steger; three daughters, Kelly (Christopher Honzik) Steger of Deerbrook, Brenda Sue (Todd) Mayr and Stephanie Steger; two sons, Matthew (Naomi) Steger and David (Tammy) Steger Jr. all of Antigo; ten grandchildren, Kelsey (Jon Schultz) Honzik, Kasey (Robert Theisen) Honzik, Wilhemina Steger, Jack Steger, Faith (Jasen) Bullock, Josh Steger, Maximus Steger, Leviticus Steger, Noah Nicholson, and Kendal Kickhaver; four great-grandchildren, Christopher, Tula, Cash, Jax and Lula; a sister, Lillian Novak of Deerbrook; three brothers, John (Jean) Steger of Antigo, Earl Steger of Antigo, and Edward (Kathy) Steger of Post Lake; a brother-in-law, Fred (Mary) Oesterreich; and sister-in-law, Rosemary Derrene of Antigo.
In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Katie Jo Honzik, a brother, Clarence (Joanne) Steger; sister, Phyllis (Kenneth) Bastle; brother-in-law, Tony Novak; and sisters-in-law, Bessie Steger and Connie (Pete) Arrowood.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 12 at 11 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church with Rev. Jarod Fenske officiating. Military Honor will be held at the church following the service. Burial will take place in the Town of Summit Cemetery.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 11, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Bradley Funeral Home and on Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the church.
The Langlade County Sheriff's office will provide Honor Guard Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m. and Thursday from 10 to 10:45 a.m.
Tap Tap "True story, happened a 100 years ago"
The funeral service will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@peacelutheranministries529/videos
Tributes
"I met David and his beautiful wife and Daughter at the clinic. I looked forward to seeing them all. A family so full of love, commitment and purpose. I am so sorry for your loss. You will forever be in my heart and prayers. Diane K"
"My thoughts and prayers go out to the Steger family. Sorry for your loss . Sincerely, Kathy (McFarlane) Roeder"
"So very sorry for your loss. Prayers of comfort for all of the friends and family. Sincerely, Melinda Whitt "
"Sue and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Sending prayers to your family. ???"
"I knew Dave during the brief time I lived in Antigo, along with Dave Jr. One of the finest people I ever knew, great family man. Dave Jr and family, so sorry to hear, he will be missed. "
"Sheriff Dave has been many things to my wife and I. Opponent in County League baseball (Dave was clearly better) Neighbor when he lived across the street from me and ?little Dave?s? was he ever little was a frequent visitor of my son, a reliable wrecker driver, a reliable partner when he joined the Sheriff?s department, a wonderful boss when he became Sheriff when he could have destroyed my future because I had backed another candidate out of loyalty to long time crime fighter partner despite liking both candidate. Never had a campaign sign in yard because of family ties and not wanting to put up an opposition sign accross street from a candidate. Dave soon earned my undying respect with his leadership. No better than his courage and leadership in the Cora Jones kidnapping rape, murder of this wonderful youth girl from Waupaca County. He could have made a financial pragmatic determination that this was a body dump and terminate the open ended investigation like I have seen done many times in neighboring jurisdictions on strictly budgetary or CYA reasons. Instead he took on on many challenges, reticule, and opposition from press, other agencies, and some legitimate financial watchdogs. Our Hero never wavered in the faith our team as we investigated for 87 days across most Wisconsin Counties, team members travelled to four States to check on or eliminate leads or suspects culminating in Langlade County investigation team arrest of a serial killer who specialized in home invasion rapes and kidnapping of little girls on bike. Our little team not only cleared the FBI?s focus of an man in Appleton, the Wis DCI?s negotiating of a man in a mental institution willing to confess to another murder if he could be allowed to transfer to another facility that allowed more freedom including smoking, but cleared numerous rapes in Appleton area, a home invasion murder of a young visitor from the UP, an Illinois young lady riding a bike in Waupaca in attempted kidnapping a lead that was the focus of our teams investigation that that caused friction between our investigators and the Waupaca FBI DCI Langlade task force which we were asked to leave. The majority wrote off the July bike incident as a hit and run traffic event. We also had our guy convicted after confessing to the murder kidnapping or a little girl on bike near Ripon who?s body was dumped near Dodgeville in Iowa County whose county went along with mental patient?s theory who happened to live near body dump. So three killings and many rapes, and kidnappings solved by fallen hero Dave who must go down as one of the most courageous lawmen in the State?s history. Dave I am forever your most loyal deputy. Benny Baker"
"We are so sorry for the loss of Dave. No matter where you were he always said hello and had that great smile on his face. He was a wonderful guy. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Ann and Dick Majewski"
"My sympathy & prayers to his family. He was a wonderful man & certainly an icon in our community. I'm so sorry for your loss."
"We are so very sorry for your loss. Dave was a wonderful man. Our hearts go out to his entire family. You're in our thoughts and prayers."