David Eugene Steele, age 69, of San Tan Valley, Arizona, died unexpectedly on April 9, 2022.
Dave was born on June 22, 1952, to Gloria Steele and Edward Allen in Long Beach, California. After graduating from Gardena High School in 1969, he went on to serve in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam war, and later as a recruiter. In 1990, after a 20-year career with the USMC, Dave retired as a Master Sergeant (E-8). Upon retirement, he was immediately hired as a police officer with the Portland Police Bureau in Portland, Oregon. He went on to become a Portland Police Detective and retired as a sergeant in 2007. In 2010, Dave and his wife, Teri, moved to San Tan Valley, Arizona, where he got a job as a security officer at Poston Butte High School. He served there for 8 years, retiring in 2021. Until his death, Dave was an active member of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Posse, serving in a volunteer patrol capacity and as a Field Training Officer, and advisor to the PCSO Cadets, a program for young people ages 14-21.
Over the years, Dave enjoyed many hobbies, including ceramics and painting, riding his Harley and enjoying time RVing, boating and fishing. He spent much of his time serving the community and fellow service members through his participation in Honor Guard, the American Legion and Masonic Lodge, to name just a few. Over the last 1 ½ years, Dave enjoyed delivering for Edible Arrangements and took pride in bringing joy to those he served.
Dave was preceded in death by his daughter, Alicia Steele; mother, Gloria Tingstrom; father, Eddie Allen; brother, Robert Allen and beloved grandmother, Emma “Honey” Desaw, who played a major role in his life when he was young. He is survived by his wife, Teri; his children, Jennifer (Jared) Motherway, Jessica (Michael) Lowry, Bryan Steele, Tiffany Steele; stepchildren, Jacque (Rick) Raffaele, Andrew Horton, Brea Horton; adopted children, Samantha Steele, Arianna Steele, Jaime Steele; grandchildren, Keegan, Lochlan and Breckan Motherway, Carson and Leslie Lowry, Brooklyn Steele, Ricky, Haley and Caden Raffaele, and Cohan Dixon. He is also survived by his siblings, Linda Campbell, Pauline Bjazevich, Phillip Fiamengo, Curtis Zimmerman, Laura, Larry and Billy Allen, and Kathy Livingston.
Viewing will be held on Friday, April 15th from 5-8pm at San Tan Mountain View Funeral Home, 21809 S. Ellsworth Rd., Queen Creek, AZ, 85142. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, April 16th, at 11am at Poston Butte High School, 32375 N Gantzel Rd, AZ 85143 San Tan Valley, Arizona, with a second viewing just beforehand at 10am. A full military burial service will take place on Monday, April 18th at 10:30am at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Cave Creek, 23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the PCSO Posse Fund or the Diabetes Research Institute, https://www.diabetesresearch.org/.