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Emil J. Steinkraus, a resident of Albuquerque since 1952, died at home on Tuesday, June 12, 2001. Mr. Steinkraus was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret (Marge) Darby Steinkraus (July 1991). Emil married Margaret, his high school sweetheart, in March 1959. Margaret's sister-in-law, Barbara Darby and sister, Sally Gunderson (Greenfield, Wisconsin), survive him as well as many caring neighbors and friends, and his beloved sheepdog, Schotzie. A family friend has adopted Schotzie. An only child, Steinkraus was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. During World War II, he served in Europe as a member of the 82nd Airborne where, at the Battle of Bastogne, he sustained severe frostbite to his feet causing permanent damage. After the war, he continued his education at the University of Wisconsin at Madison graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. In the early 50's, he moved to New Mexico for additional treatment at the VA Hospital in Albuquerque, and began his long career with Sandia National Laboratories. At Sandia Labs, Steinkraus worked primarily in the fields of lasers and mirrors specifically applied to the information-gathering portion of rocket technology. Although he officially retired ten years ago he continued to work as a consultant, stating in a 1993 article that he preferred to"keep involved and produce things that would benefit humanity." Dr. Paul Nathanson, Director of the Institute of Public Law at UNM and a friend of Mr. Steinkraus says,"Emil was a brilliant engineer and always interested in education and, in particular, education at the University of New Mexico." Through a planned gift made public several years before his death, Steinkraus left virtually all his estate to the University of New Mexico in support of the Presidential Scholarship Program. Tribal Court Judge for the Pueblo of Laguna, The Hon. Marcia Greene who was the Steinkraus' neighbor in the 1980's, last visited Emil the day before his death. Remembering her friend of many years, Judge Greene says,"While a private person who seldom talked about himself, Emil enjoyed socializing and discussing policy and politics with a good laugh thrown in here and there. Several months ago", she continues,"he drove me to Los Lunas for breakfast with his dog in the back seat -- everyone at the restaurant he frequented was happy to see him and knew exactly what he wanted for breakfast." According to his wishes, Mr. Steinkraus has been cremated and his ashes, along with his wife's, will be scattered in the Sandia Mountains. Memorial gifts may be made to the Margaret and Emil J. Steinkraus Endowed Memorial Presidential Scholarship Fund, c/o The University of New Mexico Foundation, 700 Lomas Blvd. NE, #2 Woodward Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131.
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