William Herman Steinman Jr., 83, of Bellevue, passed away peacefully at Highlandspring Care Center in Ft. Thomas, KY on Monday July 28, 2014, finally succumbing to Parkinson's disease. He was born on January 8, 1931 and is the son of the late William Herman Steinmann, Sr,. and Clara (nee: Fugazzi) Steinmann.

On May 16, 1964 he married the beautiful Diana Louise Schwartz (Skvorc), his beloved wife of 50 years, who survives. Additional survivors include his four children: Melissa Steinman of Orlando, FL, William Christopher Steinman (Stephanie Wood ) of Salvisa, KY, Rachel Steinman (Christopher Miller) of Mason, OH and Skyler Steinman of Bellevue, KY.; one grandson Sebastian Kristopher Steinman, and sister, Carol Jean Steinman Mills.

In true German form, his known trademarks were discipline, work ethic, "persistence" and excellence, especially in education and performance. Mechanically capable, he was brilliant at math, and art (drawing especially), and truly appreciated nature's great outdoors.

"Ornery" was part of his DNA, and he swept Diana off her feet with his dancing. With a love of dogs, he gave her a German-Shepard puppy - Rebel - as a gift for her protection. Rebel remained his favorite. He had a penchant for sweets too - he never met a Pecan Sandie or UDF vanilla shake he didn't like. His contagious and mischievous 1000-watt smile was immediate, lighting up the world, and he would remind his family to "STAY WITH THE HAPPY PEOPLE!" (a famous dad-ism).

He served honorably in the Korean War with the Army and the U.N. before graduating from the University of Cincinnati. His career highlights included becoming an accomplished Eagle Scout, installing swing sets at Devou Park as a member of the corp of engineers, being a Federal agent with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), a Navy trouble-shooter for AWACS aircraft in Saudi Arabia and working in the classified division at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In his heart of hearts, though, he had always dreamed of becoming a National Park Ranger.

Visitation is Sunday August 3, 2014 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Dobbling, Muehlenkamp & Erschell Funeral Home, 241 Fairfield Ave, Bellevue, KY 41073 followed by a service at 5:00 PM. Military funeral honors ceremony and internment will be at Camp Nelson National Cemetery, 6980 Danville Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356, on Monday August 4, 2014 at 1:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Hospice of the Bluegrass, 7388 Turfway Road, Florence, KY 41042; Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, 406 West 34th Street, Suite 920, Kansas City, MO, 64111 or The National Park Foundation, 1201 Eye Street, NW, Suite 550B, Washington DC, 20005, Attn: Jennifer Romero.