Joyce Elaine Alexis Steiner

Mrs. Joyce Elaine Alexis Steiner, 90, entered into Life Eternal on April 11, 2019 from her daughter’s residence in Sautee Nacoochee, GA. Mrs. Steiner was born July 10, 1928, in Johnsonburg, PA to Axel T. Alexis and Edith Larson Alexis.

The family moved to Punxsutawney, PA where Mrs. Steiner attended elementary, junior and senior high schools. She was Valedictorian of her graduating senior class in 1946. She attended Thiel College in Greenville, PA where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree and met her future husband, The Reverend William G. Steiner. They married on June 21, 1952.

Mrs. Steiner was a well- liked and fondly remembered elementary school teacher over several decades. She taught in the following towns, all in Pennsylvania: Wesleyville, Lawrence Park, Butler, and Connoquenessing. She also ardently embraced her roles as a pastor’s wife, mother of four, community leader, volunteer, and later as a grandmother. A joyful and dedicated Christian and lifelong Lutheran, Mrs. Steiner began serving her Lord and Savior in many capacities from early childhood on until recent health issues slowed her down. Sunday Schools, Bible Schools, youth groups, adult groups, church choirs, and church camps were all enriched by her compassion, wisdom, love, mentoring, inspiration, leadership, and teachings.  In her lifetime of teaching and service, including 10 years as the Program Director’s wife at Camp Lutherlyn (a large Lutheran Church camp in Western Pennsylvania), Mrs. Steiner positively influenced the lives of thousands of young people and adults in countless ways.

She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was ever the learner, reading daily devotions and at least one newspaper a day, and two books a week, until two days before her death. Her children, grandchildren and friends knew her as quick-witted and happily describe spending precious hours playing table games with her as their “merciless” but lovable competition. Mrs. Steiner loved to travel and visited all 50 states, multiple continents, and countries as far away as Australia and New Zealand. She rode a camel in her seventies and was thrilled to take a 2-hour hot air balloon ride over the Helen, GA area at age 83.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, The Reverend William G. Steiner, her brother, The Reverend E. Jerome Alexis, and her son-in law, Jerel J. Erne, MD.  She is survived by her brother, Roger D. Alexis of Bradford, PA; her four children, Signe Erne of Sautee Nacoochee, GA, Leah Abbey of Colonial Heights, VA, Mark (Melissa) Steiner of Lanham, MD, and The Reverend Roger (Gwen) Steiner of Turtle Creek, PA. She leaves behind four grandchildren, four great grandchildren, two step- grandsons, four step great grandchildren, and one step great great grandson.

Memorial Services will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 1 pm at Faith Lutheran Church 4114 Hwy 115 East, Cleveland, GA and on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 11 am at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Prospect, PA with inurnment immediately following in the church cemetery. Memorials, if so desired, may be sent to Camp Lutherlyn, Box 335, Prospect, PA 16052 to further enhance Mrs. Steiner’s passion for Christian fellowship, learning, worship, and adventures in Faith.