Steven J. Gmeinder

“What is together must come apart and vice versa.”

Steven Joseph Gmeinder was born to Fred and Marian (née Weisensel) on June 2, 1954. From an early age, Steven apprenticed under his father at the Gmeinder Welding shop in Marshall, Wisconsin, a continuation of his Grandpa Joseph’s blacksmith business. Steven fully credited the development of his advanced understanding of construction, metal work, manufacturing, and repair to this time spent with his dad. By the time Steven was an adult, he played a crucial role at Gmeinder Welding, working in sync with Fred to repair and even design original farming equipment and train components. Some of this equipment, particularly the “Fredmint” mint planting machine, is still in operation today. While Steven credited his father with his mechanical education, he remembered his mother for giving the warmest hugs and making the best cookies. From Marian, he learned patience, caring, diplomacy, and how to manage a large family. He recounted how beautifully she would care for the flowers at the Weisensel family farm while he’d scurry off with his sisters to touch the cows’ soft noses.

Steven pursued education his entire life, always looking to better understand what was in front of him. While working at Gmeinder Welding, he earned an Associate’s Degree from Madison Area Technical College in Mechanical Design. A few years later, he left Marshall to pursue his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota. He eventually returned to school, earning his MBA in Corporate Strategy from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. His talents were well utilized in Southern Wisconsin, where he built an illustrious career building drives at Gilman Engineering, Kearney & Trecker Group, Rockwell Automation, Danfoss Drives, GE Industrial Solutions, and finally ABB Drives, where he is sorely missed by his talented colleagues and friends.

Outside of his career, Steven kept busy in many ways. He lent his bass voice to community musical theater productions, Janesville Choral Union, and the Sanborn Singers choral ensemble for many years in Janesville, Wisconsin. He enjoyed listening when his sons made music, often on the instruments he had restored. Steven also traveled the world. He explored Germany and Switzerland, skied the Alps of Austria, toured Australia with friends, and visited many other nations for his job.

Steven loved vacationing with Patty, his wife of 38 years. Their marriage started off adventurously, taking a jeep across Mexico on their honeymoon. They drove along the Pacific coastline from San Francisco to Eugene, Oregon, along the way tasting wine at vineyards, whale watching on cliffs, and hiking in national and state forests. Steven also took great joy traveling close to home with Patty, exploring the many nooks and crannies that the great states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan have to offer, while never forgetting to pack golf clubs and a picnic basket.

He loved exploring the lakes of Wisconsin with his dad and children in pursuit of the ever-elusive walleye. Many were chased; few were caught. Steven’s inability to get walleye into the boat played a crucial role in maintaining healthy populations of the native Wisconsin fish. In addition to piloting his father’s boat, Steven spent years flying small aircraft, eventually leaving the cockpit after his second son was born. He also stepped off his motorcycle after having kids, leaving behind his life of cruising the scenic backroads of Wisconsin with his prized guitar strapped to his back.

Steven built, repaired, and refinished any and all things: big or small, wood or steel, mobile or stationary. In his youth, he loved working on hot rods and motorcycles and loved to drive them fast in wide open spaces. He designed and built the home in which he and Patty raised their family, and was equally at home working on musical instruments, such as guitars, a lute, grand pianos, and harpsichords. Steven’s mastery over woodworking went beyond structural integrity and utility; there was always beauty. Steven was an artist with a piece of wood. Throughout his home, you will see pristine finishing on a grand piano, impeccably rounded corners on a bed frame bent by hand, an intricately built cherry jewelry box with stained glass doors (a surprise for Patty), as well as a lute once smashed to pieces, now in perfect playing condition.

One can stroll through Steven’s vineyard in the backyard of his home, where he spent the last two decades growing grapes and bottling red and white wine. After all his hard work, Steven found great joy on the golf course. Across southern Wisconsin, Steven spent hundreds of hours with his wife and kids, relishing in the frustrating sport, or at least profiting from some stray balls that needed a new home.

He made the most intricate, delicious chocolate treats. Famously, his flourless chocolate cake, chocolate mousse, and truffles filled with raspberry ganache were enjoyed by family and friends during the holidays. In recent years, Steven designed and constructed his own chocolate melting machine to refine his truffle making endeavors. As with many products the world over, Steven looked at an overpriced chocolate melter and correctly (as always) surmised, “I could make that”.

His talents were well known in the community: he built an enormous deck for his neighbor down the street, asking nothing in return, finished basements for family friends, and built extravagant set pieces at Arrowhead High School for the many musicals starring his sons. He repaired everyone’s car (or rather supervised while he taught the owner how to do it themself). He restored a grand piano that now sits in a church in Kenosha. He built a pergola that stood tall at multiple weddings. He shingled the roof of a friend’s house in Madison as an opportunity to teach his kids how to shingle a roof. In the last few months of his life, he renovated most of his son’s century-old house. On the many occasions he took his family to his dear friend Kathy’s cottage in Rhinelander, he left her with a portion of the house repaired or newly renovated. He loved working on projects with one or more companions, always incorporating teaching into the process.

Steven’s first grandchild, Eleanor, was born in April 2024, and he adored spending time with her and watching her grow. She loved reading stories with him before bed, and he loved her little toes.

Steven was the best husband and father to ever take on the role. He lived to be present in his children’s lives, seeing that they grew into capable young men. He was deeply proud of his boys and their many accomplishments. The most important part of his life was his marriage to Patty and the family they built together.

Steven is survived by his wife Patty (née Mallu), sons Alex, Jonathan (Natalie, Eleanor), Nicholas (Keri), and Simon (Haley). He will forever be remembered for his brilliant mind, careful parenting, and loving companionship. Steven is profoundly missed by those who love him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to two organizations important to Steven:

Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin cancer clinical trials: https://giving.mcw.edu/site/Donation2?df_id=2021&mfc_pref=T&2021.donation=form1

Janesville Choral Union: https://www.janesvillechoralunion.org/support-jcu

A celebration of Steven’s life will be held on June 6, 2026, at a private location. For details on this event, please reach out to Patty, Alex, Jonathan, Nicholas, or Simon, or email us with your name and your relationship with Steven at gmeinderfamily@gmail.com.