Howard Duane Steigerwalt, 95, lifelong resident of Ashland, Ohio was welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior on Friday afternoon, January 24, 2025. He passed away at Wasen Rehabilitation Center at Brethren Care Village surrounded by his loving family.

Howard was born on January 2, 1930 in the old brick house on State Route 60 to William and J. Maye (nee Stone) Steigerwalt. He and his sisters grew up here on the old homestead that was part of the early beginnings of Montgomery Township. He graduated from Ashland High School in 1948, where he ran track and was voted Ashland County’s Healthiest Boy. He married his high school sweetheart Dolores Tucker on September 4, 1949.

Howard was a 4-H member and also advisor. He was a former president of Ashland’s Home Builders and a former member of the Montgomery township appeal board. He served five years in the United States Naval Reserves. He worked at a factory and also tried his hand at banking before finding his real passion of building homes with his Uncle Jake Steigerwalt. In 1970 Howard took over Steigerwalt Builders and was joined by his sons, Doug, Steve and Joel. Between his work with his uncle and his sons, they built close to 100 houses in Ashland County and three neighboring counties. Even after Steigerwalt Builders was dissolved in 2017, Howard continued to minister to many throughout the county with his carpentry skills.

Howard’s other passions were farming his 80 acres and raising livestock. He was an active volunteer on church building committees at Emmanuel United Methodist and Trinity Church and a current member of the Ashland Dickey Church of the Brethren.

After the death of his first wife, Howard married Kay (nee Schoonover) on May 29, 2010. She survives along with sons, Douglas (Karen) Steigerwalt of Ashland, Stephen (Elaine) Steigerwalt of Madison, Alabama, Joel (Judy) Steigerwalt of Saint John, Indiana; daughters, Constance (Thomas) Stocksdale of Wooster, Roberta (James) Scarbury of Mansfield, and Shelly Steigerwalt of Ashland. Howard was a devoted grandpa to numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Howard was preceded in death by his first wife, Dolores, his daughter-in-law, Gail; two sisters, Thelma (C. Jay) Welsh and Virginia (Paul) Spore.

A celebration of Howard’s life will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ashland Brethren in Christ Church with Reverend Keith Tyson, Reverend Tom Zuercher, and Reverend Andrew Cuffman officiating. Interment will follow at the Trinity Cemetery on State Route 89. Friends and family may visit on Thursday, January 30, 2025 from 1–3 p.m. and 5–7 p.m. at the Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Ashland Dickey Church of the Brethren, New Addition Project, 1509 Township Road 655, Ashland, Ohio 44805 or Gentiva Hospice, 112 Harcourt Rd #3, Mt Vernon, OH 43050.

The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at Wasen Rehabilitation Center and Gentiva Hospice for the excellent care provided to Howard and his family.

Howard will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.

For those who may not be able to attend, online condolences may be shared on the funeral home’s website at denbowfh.com.

Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home & Crematory is handling the arrangements.

Funeral Home: Denbow-Gasche Funeral Home

Website: denbowfh.com