Thomas N, Steichen

Thomas Nicholas Steichen died at age 82 on September 22, 2018, due to heart complications. He is survived by his wife, Betty; brother, Leonard; three sons, Craig, Brian, and Keith; and three grandchildren, Hailey, Matthew, and Samantha. We will miss him for his simple wisdom, boundless positivity, and fierce commitment to the well-being of his loved ones.

Tom was born on June 14th, 1936 in Woonsocket, SD to Nicholas and Frances Steichen. He grew up on their family’s farm as the youngest of eight children: Carl, Lucy, Bernard, Leonard, Edward, Harry, and Margaret. He attended Woonsocket High School, where he fell in love with Betty. Upon graduation in 1955, he joined the army and served in the Korean War as an artillery gunner. After his two years of service, he returned to Woonsocket, where he and Betty were married on September 2, 1957. Shortly after, they began growing their family while Tom worked in the printing business as an editor and publisher for various newspapers in South Dakota. In 1968, he and his family moved to Farmington, NM, where he worked at the Farmington Daily Times until he began his career in real estate in 1972. He opened his own business, Steichen Realty, and worked for multiple real estate companies throughout New Mexico until he retired. However, missing work and being around children, he worked as a beloved crossing guard at Double Eagle Elementary until his death. He was affectionately known as “Mr. Tom,” and was famous for bringing candy for every child on holidays.

Tom showed the same kindness he demonstrated to children in the crosswalk to every person he encountered. He was a supportive husband, father and grandfather who would attend every volleyball game, music recital, school play, and event that his family was involved in (and arrive at least 30 minutes early). He was quick to love, and known for his sharp memory, infectious laughter, insatiable sweet tooth, unsolicited sharing of baseball statistics, quality foot-rubs after a hard day on the ski slopes, and affinity for updating his grandchildren on the weather conditions of the cities they lived in. If anything was broken, he had the tools, patience, and knowledge to fix it. He enjoyed tending to his bale of turtles, and telling anyone who would listen about their most recent habits. He loved to poke fun at his family, and maintained his playful sense of humor until the end.

A memorial service will be held on September 29th at 10:00 a.m. at Daniel’s Family Funeral Services, 7601 Wyoming N.E. Albuquerque, NM in the Wyoming Chapel. Service will be followed by inurnment at Sandia Memory Gardens, and a subsequent gathering at Papa Felipe’s at noon to celebrate his life.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family would prefer donations to the American Heart Association.

Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010