William Clark Steele

A memorial service for William Clark Steele, of Columbia, will be held at 10AM on Monday, December 15, 2014 at the Rice Estate Chapel, 100 Finley Rd, Columbia, SC 29203. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, South Carolina Chapter, 4124 Clemson Blvd - Ste L, Anderson, SC 29621.

William "Bill" C. Steele was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 5, l927, the son of Leslie E. and Melvina Steele.  He moved to Clinton, Iowa and then Davenport, Iowa where he attended Central Jr. High School and then graduated from Davenport Central High School in l945.  He was very active in both baseball and football, and was awarded to the Iowa All State Football Team in l944. He was awarded a football scholarship to Northwestern University where he played from l945 through early l949 and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity.  Due to a football injury, he left Northwestern and returned to Davenport.  He entered Augustana College where he played baseball.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Augustana in l949. He began working at Davenport Bank and Trust in l949 where he became a Vice President. He remained there until l966; and was a very active participate Chamber of Commerce.  He was a member of the Davenport Club and the Elks Club of Davenport.  In l967 he moved to Burlington, Iowa to work at the First National Bank of Iowa as Executive Vice President.  He was very active in community affairs and served as President of the Burlington Kiwanis Club, President of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Burlington United Way, an active member of the Burlington Golf and Country Club, First Methodist Church and the Burlington Elks Club. He was also a member of the Iowa State Bankers Association.

Bill served in the United States Navy during World War II, and became a Naval Reserve Officer from l949 through l956.  He retired from the First National Bank in l983.  He and his wife, "Maggie" traveled extensively for three years, and then returned to Burlington when he was urged to return to banking.  He became CEO of the Winfield National Bank where he remained until l993, when he then retired for the second time. He and his wife resumed traveling, and visited every state of the Union, with the exception of Hawaii and Alaska. During retirement he once again became an active golfer and member of the Kiwanis Club and Elks Club. 

Bill loved reading, and was an avid "Die Hard" Chicago Cubs fan-- he and his wife traveled to Chicago the see many games. He also loved fishing and traveled to Ely, Minnesota to fish in that area many times with his father, two brothers and wife. 

In 2007 the Steele's decided to leave Burlington and move to Columbia, South Carolina to be near to their daughter and son-in-law and grandchildren.  They lived with their daughter in the Rice Estate in Columbia SC.

Survivors include: His wife, Maggie Steele, son, William C. Steele, Jr of Kansas City, Missouri, his wife Joni; and his daughter Sally Saldeen and son-in-law, William Saldeen and grandchildren, Jonathan and Margaret Saldeen.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers.

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