Lora Annice Drewel Steiner passed away Thursday, Oct. 8 at her home in Vandalia.
She was born Dec. 26, 1920, the daughter of Henry and Lydia Dahms Drewel in Fueresville.
She attended schools in Belle and Bland, graduating from Bland High School in 1938.
Lora was employed at International Shoe Company for a number of years.
She was united in marriage to Weldon (Pete) Steiner on March 31, 1946.
Both Lora and Pete were employed by Tri-County Publications in Bland, a group of six weekly newspapers owned by Norman Gallagher. Lora worked as a reporter for the Bland Courier.
In 1951, they purchased the Vandalia Leader and Laddonia Herald. Ten years later the Steiner’s purchased the Vandalia Press where Lora assisted in the publication and bookkeeping at The Leader.
Lora assisted Pete as First Lady of the Missouri Press Association when he was the organization’s president in 1978. She also served as secretary of the Press Association in 1979.
Following Pete’s untimely death on Nov. 22, 1978, Lora continued as publisher of The Leader for 26 more years, assisted by two of her children, Bill and Mary, and was a tireless supporter of Vandalia.
She sold The Leader on Aug. 31, 2003.
Lora was proceded in death by husband, Pete; parents, Henry and Lydia; and siblings, Alice McKinney and husband Paul, Arthur Drewel and wife Lorene, Elmer Drewel and wife Laura, Mabel Homfeldt and husband Wayne, Hilda Hulse and husband Dernorest and Calvin Drewel and wife Dorothleen.
She is survived by children, Cindy of St. Louis, Mary of Vandalia and Bili and wife Lily of Annville, Pa.; two grandsons; and two great-grandsons.
Funeral service was held on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Waters Funeral Home in Vandalia, with Pastor Mark Burkey officiating.
Memorial contributions suggested to the Eastern Missouri Family YMCA or the Vandalia Historical Society’s Vandana Park Project.
Arrangements entrusted to Waters Funeral home in Vandalia.
