OBITUARY

David E. Steiner: A Life of Service, Love, Devotion, Family

 

David E. Steiner, a retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Vietnam veteran, father, grandfather, teacher, lecturer, and beloved friend to many, died on March 12, 2025, he was 89 years old.  David dedicated his life to courageous military service, education, his beloved wife Mary, and to the enthusiastic embrace and pursuit of science and knowledge as a path to personal enrichment, something he shared with collogues, students, friends, family and more.  His quick wit and cutting sense of humor delighted many who knew him, often hiding his indelible sweetness and a deep love he felt for those close to him. Born in 1935, his journey spanned continents and careers, leaving a profound mark on all who knew him.  He is survived by his two loving sons, grandchildren, and extended families. 

 

Early Life and Education

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David's formative years were characterized by his sense of exploration, adventure, and a thirst for knowledge. Growing up in Portland OR, he had memorable experiences as a tugboat deckhand on the Colombia River and a window-dresser at the original Nordstroms.  He pursued higher education, attending Grinnell College and later earning a Ph.D. in Theater that would inform his diverse career, a passion for discourse, and appreciation for the arts and sciences. His academic pursuits laid the foundation for a life dedicated to teaching and an insatiable curiosity as well as his love for adventure he would later find in the Air Force.

 

United States Air Force Career

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In 1955, David embarked on a distinguished career with the U.S. Air Force, serving as a Master Navigator—a role that would define much of his professional life. Throughout his tenure, he navigated various aircraft, including the Fairchild C-119 Flying BoxCar, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, and the Douglas EC-47 Electric Goon.

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His assignments took him to diverse locations across the world, especially Southeast Asia, each contributing to his rich legacy of Air Force accomplishments. He logged over 6,000 flying hours, including 700 hours in combat.  He was awarded 11 Air Medals and The Distinguished Flying Cross for his Vietnam missions.  In the mid-1960s, he and his family were stationed in Guam, where he conducted numerous missions into the heart of typhoons using the WC-130E aircraft. David’s exceptional skill as a navigator as well as his courage and dedication during these missions were a testament to his commitment to duty and the trust others would place in him.  He was, by any measure, a heroic soldier fighting in an unpopular war while remaining a loving father and husband.

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After retiring from the Air Force, David continued to teach at CU Boulder and visit high schools to educate and inform the next generation of his experiences in war and as an aviator. He was dedicated to veteran affairs, co-founding a Vietnam Veterans of America chapter 1071 in Denver and participating in a program to ceremonially intern the remains of veterans unclaimed in mortuaries.

 

Family and Legacy

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David's life was filled with deep love for his family. He met his beloved wife, Mary Coomes, when he was 24, and their partnership was a cornerstone of his life. He met her in an Officers Club in Harlingen TX in 1959. They were married in 1961 and happily married for 52 years before she died in 2013.  Together, they had two boys and navigated the challenges of military life and shared in the joys of family and adventure.

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David spent many years with his family and friends as an active resident of Allenspark Colorado.  Staying often with his wife and family in a renovated 19th Century log cabin originally owned by his grandfather, he enjoyed countless summers and winters nestled in the beauty of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. A regular columnist for the town’s local news journal, he often wrote on subjects near and dear to him and his fellow residents. 

 

As a father and grandfather, David instilled values of curiosity, resilience, and creativity in his family. A skeptic at heart and a loveable curmudgeon, friends and family alike knew him as someone who deeply cared for those in his life.  His legacy is evident in the stories shared by his friends, children and grandchildren, each carrying forward his irascible charm and lessons learned from a man who lived fully and authentically.

 

A Life Well-Lived

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David E. Steiner's life was a rich tapestry of exceptional service, exploration, spirited discourse, pride, fun, and love for his family and friends. From the skies he navigated to the mountains he adored; his journey was one of purpose and passion. Caring and selfless in his love for others, his life serves as a reminder of the impact one individual can have on the friends and family fortunate enough to have known him. 

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