John Steinerbrunner, 94, of Albany died Aug. 30 at his home.
He was born in Almaskeresztur, Hungary, to John and Anna Steinerbrunner. John was born and raised in a small German speaking village in Hungary. He spent those early years working and tending to the family farm.
At age 21, he was drafted into the Hungarian Army. After a brief training, John was sent to the Russian front. In August of 1942, he was wounded and released to go home.
In May of 1944, he married his love Maria Baumgartner. They spent many years together in Pecs, Hungary, where he worked as a mailman. In 1973, John and Mary moved to Garden Grove, California, to join their daughter Hilda Horvath and extended family. Then in 1975 they relocated to Albany.
While living here he worked as a custodian for K-Mart and LBCC. He retired from Wah Chang in 1984. He became a proud US citizen at age 76.
John was a man who loved people. He enjoyed entertaining and telling a good story. He loved cooking and sharing with his grandkids the traditions of the "old country." He was a quiet, honorable man, with a strong faith in God. He loved his family and his Lord! He was known as Papa John to many and will be dearly missed.
John was a member of the First Assembly of God in Albany.
He loved gardening, and his specialty was fruit tree grafting. He enjoyed reading and spending time outside and playing with his great-grandkids.
John is survived by his daughter, Hilda Horvath and husband Victor; brother-in-law Joseph Baumgartner; sister-in-law Matilda Novak and husband Joseph; grandchildren Attilla Horvath and wife Melanie, Esther Godaert and husband John, and Eugene Horvath; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maria, his parents, two brothers and one sister.
A celebration of life will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, at Albany First Assembly of God.
AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling arrangements.