JAMES ELLSWORTH STEINKE
11-11-37 to 12-16-18

Passed away on December 16th at the age of 81. Jim, James, Dad, Coach, Big Jim, Old Man – he answered to them all.

Jim did things his way until the very end. He lived life large, grabbing it with both hands and with gusto. He never did things halfway.

In high school he was the student body president, captain of the speech and debate teams and a star athlete, playing basketball and baseball. His love of sports transferred to coaching and for many years he coached Little League, Babe Ruth and Pop Warner Football. Later he took up golfing and became an excellent golfer and was seen frequently up at Beau Pre. He worked in the logging industry for 22 years.

He passed on his love of the outdoors and hunting to his sons, teaching them the fundamentals and was an avid duck, pheasant, grouse and dove hunter. He loved fishing with his boys on the Whaler down at the cove and catching a 58-pound halibut was a highlight.

He was a gardener extraordinaire and preserved his bounty by making scrumptious sweet and dill pickles and fabulous fresh salsa. He smoked and cured his own salmon, which was a family favorite.

He leaves behind his loving, loyal and dedicated spouse, Beverly, who cared for him these part four and a years, his four children and their spouses; Scott (Leslie), Mark (Patrice), Laurie (Jeff), and Shelly, his many grandchildren, Joel Boothe (Melissa), James Pannell (Shanda), Graham Steinke, Ryan Steinke, Michael Koehler (Ashley), Brandon Arneson and Amanda Arneson, also his great-grandchildren; Brayden, Dylan and Miss Emmajean. He also leaves behind his two best friends, his brothers, Lennie (Jennie) and Gerry (Annamarie). A special thank-you goes out to his youngest daughter, Shelly, for all her caregiving over the past four and a half years, and to Marian, his caregiver. They helped him through these final years.

To honor Jim’s spirit, include someone who has nowhere to go into your holiday festivities, enjoy a day on the ocean, drink a toast, watch a game, pet a dog or cat or listen to some country music.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jim Steinke’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.