Kenneth A. “Ken” Steiner

Monday, July 20, 2026, 4:00 - 8:00 PM

Tuesday, July 21, 2026, 8:30 - 10:00 AM

Moss Funeral Home, Highland, IL

Tuesday, July 21, 2026

10:30 AM

St. Paul Catholic Church, Highland, IL

On July 15, 2026, Kenneth Albert Steiner, age 87, passed away at his home in Highland. He was born in Highland on October 13,1938, to Ferdinand and Emma Steiner.

Ken was raised in Pierron, where he attended grade school at Immaculate Conception School. He then attended St. Henry’s Preparatory Seminary in Belleville from 1952 to 1958, followed by Immaculate Heart of Mary Novitiate in Godfrey from 1958 to 1959. After making his vows as an Oblate of Mary Immaculate, Ken attended the Oblate Fathers’ Our Lady of the Snows Major Seminary at Pine Hills in Pass Christian, MS. He was ordained a priest on December 19, 1964, in Waveland, MS.

In 1965, Ken traveled to Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil to begin his missionary work. After three months of language school to learn Portuguese, he began his ministry at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Imbiribeira, a suburb of Recife, where he dedicated himself to serving the poorest areas of the community.

On December 11, 1971, Ken married the love of his life, Neide (Freire) Steiner, who had worked faithfully at his side during his ministry. Together, they cherished their two children, Andre Steiner and Maria (Steiner) Zurliene, who were born in Brazil.
Ken and his family returned to the United States on July 4, 1976. For twenty-seven years, he served as a loyal property manager for Terra Properties, from where he retired in 2003.

Ken enjoyed welding and woodworking; sailing on Highland’s Silver Lake; reading; traveling to Brazil; cruising to Venice, the Greek Islands, and Alaska; and traveling by car throughout the United States. From 1976 through1996, he served St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland in various capacities. He also served the Diocese of Springfield as a member of several committees focused on social justice.
Ken is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Neide, of Highland; son, Andre, and his wife, Bridget, of Edwardsville; daughter, Maria, and her husband, Curt, of Breese; grandchildren, Michael and Janie Steiner and Garett and Jackson Zurliene; younger brother, Eric Steiner of Springfield; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law in Brazil; and several nieces and nephews in both the United States and Brazil.

He was preceded in death by his parents; older brothers, Ferdinand “Ferdie” Steiner and Gunther Steiner; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Aurino and Maria de Lourdes Freire; and many other beloved family members in both the United States and Brazil.
Visitation will be held at Moss Funeral Home in Highland, on Monday, July 20, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland on Tuesday, July 21, at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Highland.

In lieu of flowers, plants, and gifts, memorials may be made to Mater Dei Catholic High School and will be received at the funeral home or in care of Moss Funeral Home (1501 9th St., Highland, IL 62249).