Wayne Leo Steindorf

Wayne Leo Steindorf was born in San Jose on October 11, 1942. He passed away at home in Healdsburg on January 14, 2024 after a long illness.

Wayne had three loves in his life; his family, agriculture, and woodworking.

Wayne’s grandfather, Frank L. Steindorf, settled in the Santa Clara Valley in 1898. The extended Steindorf family were well known for their large land holdings of orchards. An elementary school there still bears his name.

Wayne’s family moved to Healdsburg in the 1950’s where they tended orchards of prunes and pears in the Dry Creek Valley.

In the 1970’s Wayne with his father, Barnard W. Steindorf, converted his prune orchards into vineyards comprised of several varietals of wine grapes. Wayne and his father performed vineyard management and planting contract work in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties for absentee landowners. Over the years they planted hundreds of acres of vines including some of the first vineyards in Sebastopol. After consulting with enologists at UC Davis, the Steindorf’s were the first to plant Cabernet Sauvignon on St. George rootstock in the Dry Creek Valley.

In the early 1980’s Waynes parents decided to retire and sell their property in the Dry Creek Valley. Wayne returned to his first love of woodworking. He had served his apprenticeship under the guidance of European master craftsmen in the early 1960’s. Many in the woodworking industry knew him as Yogi, a reference to the size of his lunchbox in his early years. For over 20 years he owned and operated North Coast Cabinetry who specialized in Commercial Casework. The quality of his work earned craftsmanship awards for the Mondavi Winery, Tiburon Library, and the Tamalpais Bank. He was elected to the board of directors and President of the Woodwork Institute which served the West Coast Region for Cabinetry and Mill Workers. During his tenure they developed the Uniform Standards for Manufacturing Casework; a guide that established recognized international WIC compliance standard for casework used by architects.

Under his mentorship, three of his employees eventually started their own cabinetry businesses. Wayne was a member of North Coast Builders Exchange, where he served on the Workforce Development Committee who collaborated with vocational educators in public schools. He worked with the California State Contractors Licensing Board to create proficiency examinations.

Wayne never lost his love for agriculture. He was a 4-H and FFA member raising several species of livestock and later a 4-H leader for woodworking and swine projects. He served on the first committee for the Sonoma County 4-H Chicken Que fundraiser, some 60 years later it’s still a thriving success. Wayne built and donated the casework for the 4-H Center in Rohnert Park.

He served on the Swine Advisory Committee at the Sonoma County Fair. He was a founding member of the Sonoma County Pork Producers Feeder Pig Sale.

Wayne was happiest when he was at a fair. He was a member of the Healdsburg Future Farmers Fair Board of Directors for over 40 years. He and other volunteers built the new livestock barns at the ball park. He built and donated the cabinets and countertops for the livestock office trailer. Wayne served on several committees over the years. Upon his retirement, the Board of Directors honored him by naming the swine building at the HFFCF fairgrounds the “Steindorf Barn”. He loved attending swine shows and auctions throughout the state. He was a proud grandpa and immensely enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in their livestock, equestrian, and sporting events.

Wayne met his wife Karen A. Tennyson under hilarious circumstances. They both typically showed sheep. However, the county 4-H farm advisor encouraged several children to raise pigs for the Junior Grand Nationals Livestock Show in San Francisco. Neither they nor the swine had received any training in swine showmanship, which ended in a showring disaster.

They started dating soon after and were married on November 18, 1961 in Petaluma. They celebrated their 62nd anniversary this last November.

Along with his wife Karen, Wayne is survived by his children Leo (Teri) Steindorf, Lynn (Thor) Bodtker and Lisa Steindorf. Wayne cherished his seven grandchildren. He was also blessed with three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at The Parent-Sorensen Mortuary 850 Keokuk Street in Petaluma, January 27, 2024 at 10:30 am. A burial will follow at Liberty Cemetery. A celebration of Wayne's life and reception will be held at 1:00 pm at the Elks Lodge 2105 S McDowell Blvd #A where Wayne had built their bar.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair Scholarship Fund. Their address is P.O. Box 763 Healdsburg Ca 95448.