Orvis Steimer

On April 27, 2021, Orvis Phillip Steimer passed away peacefully at The Ligonier Gardens surrounded by family members.  He was born June 9, 1926, to Edward A. and Mary Weber Steimer of Duquesne, PA.  He was one of ten children and is survived by his sisters Mary Steimer Dale, Carole Steimer Pastrick, and his brother Paul (Marcie) Steimer.  He attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Duquesne, Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Duquesne High School.  He served in the Army Air Force Base Unit near the end of World War II.  After the war he attended and graduated from Penn State University, McKeesport campus, and Franklin College, Franklin, IN, with a BA Degree in Business Administration. He later received a Master Degree in Education from California State College.  Orv began his career in the Ligonier Valley School District in 1956 teaching Industrial Arts.  He coached track and later served as the Athletic Director.  In 1970 he was appointed to the position of Business Administrator for the Ligonier Valley School District and retired after a total of 37 years of service.  He was elected to and served several terms on the Ligonier Town Council and was the Chair of the water department during his tenure.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jean Durst Steimer who resides in Ligonier. After their retirement, they spent their spring, summer and fall months in Ligonier Valley and enjoyed the winter months at their home in Florida.  Orv and Jean raised five children in Ligonier:  Beth (David) Jeter of Middleton, WI, Marc (Aimee) Steimer of Cincinnati, OH, David Steimer of Ligonier, Nancy Steimer of Spokane, WA, and Amy (Tim) Kelleher of Boca Raton, FL.  He is survived by nine grandchildren, Kara (Scott) Langer, Kali (Mick) Gonzalez, Kelsey Jeter, Marc (Nicole) Steimer Jr., Eric Steimer, Adam (Pershank) Steimer, Justin (Britne) Steimer, Ryan Eilenfield, Aaron Eilenfield and five great grandchildren Cameron, Scarlett Jean, Lennox, Aiden and Lachlan.

Orvis began visiting the Ligonier Valley in his early 20’s where he and his “buddies” from Duquesne rented cottages in the Darlington area.  Later in life he talked about his early visits to the Ligonier Beach, treks into the Laurel Mountains, and how much he enjoyed the area.  After receiving his teaching position in Ligonier he moved his family to the area and shortly built a home on North Fairfield Street.  He spent over 60 years in that home and could often be seen watching the fall football games from the front porch.

Services will be held at a later date and the interment is private.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to the Ligonier Valley Education Trust, P. O. Box 95, Ligonier, PA 15658.

Arrangements entrusted to the Snyder-Green Funeral Home, Inc., Ligonier, (724) 238-2611.