1924
Chum
2009
Chum Steinhoff
September 2, 1924 — April 22, 2009
Munising
Winfield "Chum" Steinhoff, Jr., age 84, of Brown's Addition, died at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Hospice on Wednesday afternoon, April 22, 2009. He was born on September 2, 1924 to the late Winfield and Josephine (Lamuth) Steinhoff in Munising, MI. Chum attended Munising Schools and was a stand out athlete in football, basketball, and baseball setting many records in all of them. He graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1942. After graduation, Chum began playing semi-pro baseball across the Midwest and played for the Boston Red Sox and N.Y. Giantsfarm team in South Carolina. He entered into the U.S. Navy in January of 1943. Chum served on the USS Ommaney Bay (CVE 79) and the USS Mississippi. On January 3, 1945 while in the Surigao Strait in the Philippines, Chum was aboard the Ommaney Bay when it was sunk by kamikaze fighters and torpedoes. Chum was honorably discharged on February 27, 1945 as an Aviation Machinists Mate Third Class USN-I, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two Stars, and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon with two Stars.
He retuned to playing baseball for a short time before he returned back to Munising to work as a commercial fisherman with his family aboard the "Catherine Mary" and the "Patty Anne". On July 31, 1954 Chum married Sally C. Soukup and together they raised their two children. In 1961, they opened the Munising Oil Company, better known as the Phillip 66 station. In 1966, Chum's ski-doo Shop was opened. He began touring with his race team the 'Munising TNT's" and placed 2nd in the Snowmobile World Series in 1970. Chum served on the Board of Directors for the United States Snowmobile Association (USSA). He began his local political career in the early 70's in many capacities in both state and local government. He was on the City Commission on a number of levels and serving on many committees. Chum served on the commission for thirty years, and was always proud to serve his community. He was a member of the Alger County Fish and Game Alliance where he was very active in the placing of the fish cribs in Munising Bay, and in the construction of the Anna River Fishing Pier. Chum was also a member of the American Legion Post #131 in Munising. Chum was honored with a number of state and local awards including the State Minuteman Award which was given for his efforts with State Representative D.J. Jacobetti in the improvement of the U.P. snowmobile trails and introduction of groomers to the trails. He was also awarded the Hub Perreault Citizens Award, the DNR Partnership Award, and was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. On top of all of Chum's community service and awards, the youth in Munising knew him better simply as Coach. He spent thirty-one years teaching and coaching the game of baseball, and enjoyed working with the kid, his "Chum's Bum's". Chum enjoyed hunting and was an avid fisherman, spending his summers on his pontoon, and he was the one who the fisherman went to for the safe ice reports in the winter. He was a strong supporter of Munising Mustang athletics, and took great pleasure in following his grandchildren in their events.
Chum is survived by his daughter - Kim (Tom) Graves of Munising; son - Scott (Patty) Steinhoff of Munising; granddaughters - Donielle (Mike Henricksen) Graves of Steamboat Springs, CO and Andrea Graves of Munising; grandsons - Les Rochefort III of 29 Palms Marine Corp. Base, CA, Talon Winfield Steinhoff and Michael Steinhoff both of Munising; brother - Gerald "Pug" (Carol) Steinhoff of Rapid River, MI; sister Dorothy Cox of Munising; brother-in-law - Joe Haro; numerous loving nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many special friends. He was preceded in death by his wife - Sally on June 29, 2007; his parents; sister - Pat Kochis-Haro, brother-in-laws - Pete Kochis and William Cox II.
Chum will be escorted by Les Rochefort III, Dr. Derek Kolbus, Peter Kochis, Dave Cromell, Dick Madigan, and Richard Hill
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Family and friends will be invited to share a story or remembrance of Chum at 8:00 p.m. Chum's funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home's chapel. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Winfield "Chum" Steinhoff, Jr., age 84, of Brown's Addition, died at his home under the loving care of his family and North Woods Hospice on Wednesday afternoon, April 22, 2009. He was born on September 2, 1924 to the late Winfield and Josephine (Lamuth) Steinhoff in Munising, MI. Chum attended Munising Schools and was a stand out athlete in football, basketball, and baseball setting many records in all of them. He graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1942. After graduation, Chum began playing semi-pro baseball across the Midwest and played for the Boston Red Sox and N.Y. Giantsfarm team in South Carolina. He entered into the U.S. Navy in January of 1943. Chum served on the USS Ommaney Bay (CVE 79) and the USS Mississippi. On January 3, 1945 while in the Surigao Strait in the Philippines, Chum was aboard the Ommaney Bay when it was sunk by kamikaze fighters and torpedoes. Chum was honorably discharged on February 27, 1945 as an Aviation Machinists Mate Third Class USN-I, and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with two Stars, and the Philippines Liberation Ribbon with two Stars.
He retuned to playing baseball for a short time before he returned back to Munising to work as a commercial fisherman with his family aboard the "Catherine Mary" and the "Patty Anne". On July 31, 1954 Chum married Sally C. Soukup and together they raised their two children. In 1961, they opened the Munising Oil Company, better known as the Phillip 66 station. In 1966, Chum's ski-doo Shop was opened. He began touring with his race team the 'Munising TNT's" and placed 2nd in the Snowmobile World Series in 1970. Chum served on the Board of Directors for the United States Snowmobile Association (USSA). He began his local political career in the early 70's in many capacities in both state and local government. He was on the City Commission on a number of levels and serving on many committees. Chum served on the commission for thirty years, and was always proud to serve his community. He was a member of the Alger County Fish and Game Alliance where he was very active in the placing of the fish cribs in Munising Bay, and in the construction of the Anna River Fishing Pier. Chum was also a member of the American Legion Post #131 in Munising. Chum was honored with a number of state and local awards including the State Minuteman Award which was given for his efforts with State Representative D.J. Jacobetti in the improvement of the U.P. snowmobile trails and introduction of groomers to the trails. He was also awarded the Hub Perreault Citizens Award, the DNR Partnership Award, and was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1989. On top of all of Chum's community service and awards, the youth in Munising knew him better simply as Coach. He spent thirty-one years teaching and coaching the game of baseball, and enjoyed working with the kid, his "Chum's Bum's". Chum enjoyed hunting and was an avid fisherman, spending his summers on his pontoon, and he was the one who the fisherman went to for the safe ice reports in the winter. He was a strong supporter of Munising Mustang athletics, and took great pleasure in following his grandchildren in their events.
Chum is survived by his daughter - Kim (Tom) Graves of Munising; son - Scott (Patty) Steinhoff of Munising; granddaughters - Donielle (Mike Henricksen) Graves of Steamboat Springs, CO and Andrea Graves of Munising; grandsons - Les Rochefort III of 29 Palms Marine Corp. Base, CA, Talon Winfield Steinhoff and Michael Steinhoff both of Munising; brother - Gerald "Pug" (Carol) Steinhoff of Rapid River, MI; sister Dorothy Cox of Munising; brother-in-law - Joe Haro; numerous loving nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many special friends. He was preceded in death by his wife - Sally on June 29, 2007; his parents; sister - Pat Kochis-Haro, brother-in-laws - Pete Kochis and William Cox II.
Chum will be escorted by Les Rochefort III, Dr. Derek Kolbus, Peter Kochis, Dave Cromell, Dick Madigan, and Richard Hill
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Family and friends will be invited to share a story or remembrance of Chum at 8:00 p.m. Chum's funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home's chapel. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
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