Edwin Joseph Steinmetz died Jan. 19, surrounded by his children and his beloved wife of 71 years, Shirley. He was 94 years old.

Born in Port Huron on Sept. 9, 1919, he was the son of the late Harold George Steinmetz and Elsie Miller Steinmetz. He was the devoted husband of Shirley Magdalene Paquette Steinmetz, and together they had eight children: Jack Steinmetz (Margie), of Grand Haven; Mary Ann Wit (Derek), of Chapel Hill, N.C; Anne Steinmetz of Phoenix; Paul Steinmetz (Cheryl), of New Baltimore; Zoe Higgins (Ken), of Gales Ferry, Conn.; and Matthew Steinmetz of Chicago. Two infant children, Mary Elizabeth and Theresa Marie, predeceased him. In addition, he is survived by 16 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by two brothers, George Steinmetz (Margaret), and Jim Steinmetz; a sister, Rosemary Hindson; a sister-in-law, Virginia Steinmetz, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.  He was predeceased by three brothers:  Bob Steinmetz, Ken Steinmetz and Chuck Steinmetz.

Steinmetz was a quintessential banker and local businessman with a career that spanned 54 years, completing in 1981, when he retired as Chairman of the Board of the Marine Bank and Trust, continuing on as an Advisory Board Member to Michigan National Bank until 1991. He was one of the three founders of Central Records, Inc., the first multi-bank central booking service of its kind in the U.S.

He was tireless in his support of his church, Holy Cross Parish, where he served in numerous capacities.  He was a member of the founding boards of the Detroit Archdiocesan Board of Catholic Charities and the Holy Cross Board of Education, and was a member of the St. Clair County Catholic Charities Board from 1955-90. He was an active member of the Marine City Council 856 Knights of Columbus.

He was a founding member of the River District Hospital, and a member of the Finance Committee and chairman of the Hospital Authority, retiring from the Board in 1990. His years of public dedication were recognized when he was awarded the Fr. John R. Hogan Humanitarian Award in 1998.

Rite of Christian Burial was Jan. 24 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Marine City, with internment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Marine City. Memorials to the St. John River District Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 673271, Detroit, MI 48267.