Cleo Steinberg

MANKATO—Cleo Marie (Volinkaty) Steinberg, age 88, passed away peacefully June 18, 2017 at MCHS-Mankato surrounded by family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, June 24, 2017 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mankato. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Friday, June 23, 2017 at Mankato Mortuary, 1001 N Riverfront Dr., Mankato and one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery in New Ulm.

Cleo was born at home on January 12, 1929 in Winthrop, MN to Alvin Paul and Marie (Kreger) Volinkaty.  Her parents and she moved to New Ulm, MN where she attended school at St. Mary’s through the eighth grade and graduated from New Ulm High School, June 1946.

Cleo married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Richard Wallace Steinberg Sr., on July 6, 1946, at St. Mary’s Church in New Ulm.  Cleo challenged herself by enrolling in new course offerings of aviation control while her new husband entered the service.  In 1947, she joined her husband in Concord, CA.  This began her retail career with JC Penney’s.  After Dick’s time in the service, they moved to Angola, Indiana where he studied engineering.  Upon returning back to New Ulm, she worked in retail with Herberger’s until starting their family in 1950.  

Cleo’s love of family was her core.  Many fond memories were created throughout the years with her husband, five children, friends and relatives as she and her family lived in New Ulm, Juneau Alaska, Owatonna and Mankato.  She was involved in many social and outside activities during those years and places.  She enjoyed playing cards with several bridge clubs, family poker games, and a quiet game of solitaire. She was a member of several clubs and other church and school associations. Her drama enthusiasm piqued with her involvement in the formation years of Little Theatre of Owatonna. Cleo also loved cooking, baking, playing piano, collecting treasures for her home, occasional outings at casinos, walking, golfing and her love of shopping was there to the end.  Shopping was so much a part of her life that she opened Cleo’s Collage in North Mankato in the late 70’s.  After closing her boutique she went back into her retail clothing career in Women’s World at Brett’s achieving top sales person awards.  She prided herself in being your personal shopper pulling together the complete outfit for you.  After Brett’s closed, she went on to work in boutiques until her age of 79 in Mankato at Country Mercantile, M J Rose and Creekside Boutique.

Cleo is preceded in death by her husband, Dick; infant son, John Phillip; and Parents Al and Marie Volinkaty;  Parents-in-law Fritz and Tess Steinberg;  son-in-laws, Richard Robin and Merle Broich; brother–in-laws, Gary Asleson and Orville Steinberg; and sister-in-law, Joyce Steinberg.

Cleo is survived by her five children, Cynthia  Broich of Owatonna; Jennifer (Mark Wilmes) Ayers; Stephanie (Ira) Arndt; Richard Jr. (Cynthia) Steinberg; Alvin (Janalee) Steinberg;  16  grandchildren, Shawn(Missy) Cashman, Jesse (Casey) Cashman, Marie (Kit) Bolton, Adria (William Barsness) Ayers, Justin (Trista Pudenz )Ayers,  Kristoffer (Abby Jo) Robin, Mary (Bradley) Hrdlicka, Nicolaus (Alecia) Robin, Garrett Steinberg, Caylin Steinberg, Kalli Steinberg, Camryn Steinberg,  Ashley Steinberg, and Andrew (Brianna) Steinberg;  step-grandchildren, Michael (Tara) Broich and John (Amy) Broich; and  20 great-grandchildren with two on the way.  She also is survived by her sister, Mary Asleson; brother, Richard (Cris) Volinkaty; and close nieces and nephews, many cousins and good friends.