Alfred F. Steimel, 88, died January 29, 2012 at Trinity Manor Nursing Home in Dodge City. He was born on May 20, 1923 on a farm in Spearville, the son of Adolph and Anna (Durler) Steimel.

Alfred graduated from Spearville High School and Dodge City Community College before joining the Navy during World War II where he served for years as a US Navy lieutenant in Guam. In 1946, he married Evelyn Doll of Wright with whom he shared 65 years of marriage. She survives. Alfred received his degree in agricultural economics from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and then the family returned to western Kansas where he began work as the assistant manager of the Right Coop. Mr. Steimel had a long career in agricultural economics that included many years as the manager of the Right Cooperative Association, the Doll-Steimel Agricultural Insurance Agency, and management of wheat, cattle, and land.

Mr. Steimel had a keen interest in civic affairs; serving on the board of Dodge City Community College and helping to establish its new campus and served on many civic projects in Wright. He was active in Democratic politics, and with his wife, attended several national Democratic political conventions. He was a talented baseball player as a young man and retained a passion for baseball throughout his life, especially for his beloved St. Louis Cardinals, the current World Champions. He also was an avid duplicate bridge player. Throughout his life, he cared for his late mother, Anna Steimel, siblings, his children, and for everyone he knew. Mr. Steimel loved his family and his grandchildren. He also loved gardening and traveling. As his brother Raymond said: "Al needs no eulogy; his life was his eulogy."

He was a member of the St. Andrew Catholic Church of Wright and an officer in the Knights of Columbus.

In addition to his wife, Evelyn, Alfred is survived by three sons; Charles K. and wife Tammy of Ingalls, Dirck and wife Betsy of Des Moines, Iowa, and Lyndon and wife Terri of Scottsdale, Arizona; four daughters, Alison Arnett and Steve Marantz of Boston, Massachusetts, Denise Galarraga of Medford, Oregon, Leah Steimel and husband Wellington Guzman of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Sarah Ryder and husband Robert of Topeka; one brother, Raymond of Bethesda, Maryland; two sisters, Theresa Barragree of Dodge City and Bertha Woodard of Wichita; three brothers-in-law, Kenneth Doll of Kansas City, Loren Doll of Dodge City, and Quentin Doll of Wichita; three sisters-in-law, Elaine Aaron of Wichita, Charlene Gernon of Hiawatha, and Christine Merritt of Franklin, West Virginia; and 15 grandchildren. He is preceded in death by a son, Gregg Steimel, Sergeant in the US Army; his twin sister, Agnes Zoth; sister, Florence Feldman; and two brothers, Herman and Louis Steimel.

Vigil service will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 7:00 PM at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Wright. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Andrew Catholic Church on Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:30 AM with Rev. Robert A. Schremmer presiding. Burial will follow at St. Andrew's Cemetery in Wright. Visitation will be at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City on Thursday, February 2, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Memorials are suggested to Gregg Steimel Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home. Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guest book at www.swaimfuneralhome.com.