It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our Dad, Granddad and Great-Granddad. Born October 2nd 1926 in Cheshire, England to Eleanor Steele (nee Curtis) and Herbert George Steele, Bert was the oldest brother of William (Barbara) of Wantage, England and sisters Eleanor Stevenson (pre-deceased by husband Paul) and Eileen Whitehead (pre-deceased by husband Len) both of Perth, Australia.
Bert served as a Sergeant with the King’s Own Scottish Guard in both Scotland and West Africa and returned to London England in 1945 as a librarian at the Islington Library where he met and married Pamela Knapp (b1926-d1988) They had four children Richard, Philip (b 1953-d 2017), Marion and Jonathan (Joyce). After Immigrating to Canada in 1963, Bert spent the rest of his career as a Librarian with the Ontario Ministry of Correctional Services.
His role as Granddad filled his heart and he leaves behind Jennifer and Gillian Steele (Steve Bielec), Nathan Drescher (Katerina), Rachael Steele (Reegan Beveridge), Frances Sharun (James), Pamela (Patrick Burman), Annika (Stephen Menard) and Jacob Vander Kooy (Jessica), Cara (Alex Grigio) and Adam Steele (Pausha) as well as eleven great grandchildren; Victoria and Isaac Burman, Taylor, Ethan and Aidan Sharun, Eva and Sid Bielec, Maxim and Alyssa Drescher, Evelyn Grigio and Avalynn Vander Kooy.
He was a lifelong member of Wyndham Masonic Lodge A.F.& A.M. #688 G.R.C. and will be missed by many friends there. Masonic Services will be held at the funeral home, Monday, April 9th at 5:45 p.m.
Friends may call at the GILCHRIST CHAPEL – McIntyre & Wilkie Funeral Home, One Delhi Street, Guelph, on Sunday, April 8th from 2 – 4 p.m. and on Monday, April 9th from 6 – 7 p.m. Funeral service to follow in the funeral home chapel at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of HF Steele may be made to the Friends of the Guelph Public Library, 100 Norfolk Street, Guelph, ON N1H4J6 or online at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/7469.