Carolyn Genevieve Brown Steiner

Carolyn Genevieve Brown Steiner of Orange Park, FL, walked pain free into the arms of Jesus on March 12, 2020. Carolyn Steiner was born to Clarence and Emma Brown, on February 20, 1936, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, during one of the historic blizzards of the winter of 1936.

Carolyn was raised on the Brown Family Farm located on Pearl and Loon Lakes in Jackson County, Minnesota. She was the youngest of four children. Carolyn graduated from the (original) Jackson High School in 1953. She met her future husband, Duane Steiner, in the high school band playing 2^nd chair trombone to Duane, who occupied first chair. They both sang in the tenor section of the high school choir. Carolyn attended Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. She then transferred to Mounds Midway School of Nursing, earning her Licensed Practical Nurse Degree.

Carolyn married Duane Steiner on May 28, 1955. Carolyn worked as an LPN while Duane attended Mankato State University. Duane graduated from Mankato State University with a degree in education. He left to attend Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) in Pensacola FL. After Duane successfully completed AOCS, Carolyn joined him in Pensacola for flight training. This was the first of 12 moves made during his 30-year career in the United States Navy retiring in Orange Park, FL in 1989.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, Wendell, and two sisters, Evelyn and Shirley.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of nearly 65 years, Duane Steiner; daughters Dawn (John) Oliva of Green Cove Springs, and Debbie (Sherman) O’Brien of Orange Park, FL ; 6 grandchildren, Mark (Emily) Kendall from Cincinnati, Ohio, Nathan (Courtney) Kendall, Joseph (April) O’Brien, Joshua (Jennifer) O’Brien, Kathryn (Blas) Ruelas, and Laura (William)Torres, all from northeast Florida and 19, yes, really, great grandchildren aging from 22 years to 3 months.

Carolyn Steiner was a faithful member of Pinewood Presbyterian Church of Middleburg, FL, singing in the choir and attending Senior Saints. During the spring and summer, Duane and Carolyn attended First Baptist Church of Jackson, MN.

During Duane’s navy years, she enjoyed being a navy wife. She was involved in the duty stations of Duane’s career in any way she could, from assisting with labor and delivery of babies while husbands were at sea to speaking on “Focus on the Family” about loneliness and separation. She started a ministry in the church she and Duane attended in San Diego, reaching out to Christian wives on how to cope with separations, which are common in the military forces.

Some of her most joyous times were when she was able to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They were the love of her life. She loved every one and prayed for them every day.

Throughout her life, many groups and individuals benefitted from her generosity and giving spirit whether through support, gifts and especially prayer. Many were recipients of her strawberry/rhubarb jam from Minnesota, Crispix mix and fudge (with and with-out nuts).

Music was an integral part of her life from an early age to four days before she passed when she sang “Like a River Glorious” in the choir at church. She would sit at the piano for hours, playing every song in the hymnal from front to back and could sing all the verses to nearly every song.  

A memorial is being planned for Orange Park, FL. Details will be forthcoming after the virus crisis has abated. A memorial for Minnesota will be planned for this summer.

The family requests that anyone wishing to remember Carolyn can send memorials to Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati in honor of her great-grandson, Luke Kendall, or to Sarcoma Foundation of America in honor of her son-in-law, Sherman O’Brien.