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AHOSKIE – Thomas Herbert “Bert” Steimle, age 63, of Ahoskie, NC, has completed his life’s work and is now rejoicing and singing in heaven. He died on January 29, 2022. Born February 28, 1958, he was the son of John Thomas Steimle and Elizabeth (Lib) Jenkins Nelson. He is survived by a sister, Beth Steimle Parker, and a nephew Robert Parker and wife Maureen, all of Raleigh, as well as numerous cousins.

Bert was a proud 1978 graduate of Bertie High School where he was an active part of musical productions of every sort: marching and concert bands, chorus, and musical theater productions. He worked for many years in the Roadside Environmental Department of the NC Department of Transportation where he loved operating machinery, maintaining wildflower beds, and traveling the roads of eastern NC. He knew in intricate detail, the back roads of 14 counties in Division 1 and took great pride in his work. Bert was well thought of and loved by his co-workers.

Bert was a man of diverse interests. His great passions were fine entertaining and cooking – he owned every book of chef Ina Garten and studied her intently; grand pipe organs – he owned most every CD of concert organist Dianne Bish, studied her intently and she knew him by name; and big trucks – he owned his own scaled down version in a Super Duty Ford F250.

Those interests kept Bert busy entertaining and being entertained; serving as organist and music director for several churches, most recently, Ahoskie United Methodist; and using his truck and love of machinery to willingly help out anyone in need.

Though largely untrained, Bert understood the language of music. It spoke to him deeply. Though simple in many ways, Bert had a great appreciation for the beauty of art, cooking, flowers, landscaping, music, and worship – those heavenly gifts that make our lives fuller, richer, well-rounded, and even sacred.

Memorial gifts in Bert’s honor may be made to the Music Ministry of First Baptist Church Ahoskie, 312 W Main St, Ahoskie, NC 27910 or the Music Ministry of Murfreesboro United Methodist Church, 301 E High St, Murfreesboro, NC 27855.

A worship celebration of Bert’s life will be held at 3 p.m. on February 13, 2022 at Eastview (Aulander) Cemetery.

Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com