Allan Steer

Allan Cole Steer, age 87, passed away on December 30, 2017. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was preceded in death by his wife Nancy in 2013.

Allan was born in Parkersburg, WV on June 21, 1930. As a young boy, Allan spent his summers at the family’s cottage on the Ohio River, playing on the riverbank and watching paddlewheel steamboats ply the river.

Allan joined Boy Scout Troop 3 in 1937 and began a lifelong appreciation of being a “camper”. He took pride in being resourceful and learned how to live out of a backpack, making do with what he had and what the river and the forest had to offer. The highlight of summer was the Troop’s two-week adventure; canoeing the rivers, backpacking and camping in the West Virginia hills. He attained the rank of Eagle in 1947 and attended the Boy Scout World Jamboree in Paris, France that same year. The Boy Scout Motto, “Be Prepared” and the Boy Scout Oath, affirming duty to God and country, helping others and having strong moral character, became words he lived by his entire life.

Allan met his future wife, Nancy Seibert, in high school. They shared a love of birds, the outdoors and being on the water. As teenagers, they spent their summers along the river where they canoed and hiked the riverbank trails. Their passion for the outdoors continued through their retirement years; camping, canoeing, sailing and adding birds to their life list. They enjoyed many long trips together, traveling to the parks and remote scenic places they loved to visit.

Allan attended Ohio Wesleyan University for two years before joining the U.S. Coast Guard in 1950. Allan and Nancy married in 1951 and moved to Peoria, IL in 1954 where Allan graduated from Bradley University.

Allan moved his family to Holland, MI in 1966 and worked for Colonial Manufacturing Company in Zeeland, MI until opening his own clock manufacturing business, Charter House, where he worked until retirement.

He is survived by his children, Wesley (Maryrose) Steer, Timothy Steer, Ellen (Keith) Masters; grandchildren, Cobi (Carly), Tori (Matt), Nate and Ben.

A memorial service and remembrance to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, January 6th, 2018 at 2:00pm at Dykstra Funeral Home – Mulder Chapel, 188 West 32nd Street, Holland MI.