Jennifer Leigh Conkle Steingass

Jennifer Leigh Conkle Steingass, age 42, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 after a five year battle with malignant melanoma. Jennifer was born on February 8, 1967 in Willard, Ohio to William Frank and Shirley Ann Kegley Conkle. She enjoyed growing up in small town Ohio with her older brother Michael and younger brother Matthew. After graduating from Willard High School in 1985, Jenny attended The University of Toledo. While at UT Jenny was an active member of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority and Blue Key National Honor Fraternity. She also was a resident adviser at Parks Tower and spent her summers employed as a freshman orientation SOAR adviser. It was as a SOAR adviser where she met her future husband, Christopher Steingass. Jenny graduated from UT in June, 1990. After graduation, she was hired by Mason Consolidated Schools to teach high school English. She taught at Mason for 18 years. While there, she was instrumental in introducing the Advanced Placement program to the school district teaching AP English Literature. Jenny had a great love for literature, especially the works of Shakespeare. It was not uncommon to find Jenny reading two or three novels a week, from classics to romances. For years, she advised numerous clubs and organizations at Mason. One club she was most proud of was the Culture Club; a club where she and her husband would take students to Europe to explore the different cultures of the world. Jenny and Chris married on July 11, 1992. The couple settled in west Toledo and started a family. Jenny is the proud mother of two young men: her oldest son, Nathaniel Joseph Steingass, who is 14, and Benjamin Henry Steingass, who is 12. Jenny was an active part of her boys lives instilling them with her love of reading literature. She and Chris enjoyed traveling extensively with their children throughout the United States, Canada, and in Europe. Jenny was an active member of Gesu Catholic Church, the Chappuis Society of St. Francis de Sales High School. She was also a proud supporter of Gesu and St. Francis de Sales athletic and music departments where her sons are active. Jenny spent many hours volunteering her time at numerous American Cancer Society Relay-for-Life events throughout Ohio and Michigan. Jenny is survived by her husband of 16 years, Christopher Steingass; sons Nathaniel and Benjamin of Toledo; mother Shirley Donald Leininger of Willard, OH; brothers Michael Patricia Conkle of North Canton, and Matthew Kelly Conkle of Toledo; grand-mother Wanda Kegley of Shelby, OH, and many loving in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her father William Conkle. Family and friends may visit at the Walker Funeral Home, 5155 W. Sylvania Ave. west of Corey Rd. on Sunday from 12 to 8 pm with a scripture service at 6 pm. On Monday, the visitation will be at Gesu Catholic Church, 2049 Parkside Blvd. from 2 to 4 pm followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 4 pm. The family would like to thank Hospice of Northwest Ohio, St. Annes Mercy Cancer Center, Dr. Rex Mowat and staff, the faculty and staff of Mason Consolidated Schools and St. Francis de Sales High School, and the moms of the Chappuis Society at St. Francis de Sales High School. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Jennifer Steingass Scholarship at Mason Consolidated Schools. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com