SKOWHEGAN – Jack was a legend in his own time. He was born in Surrey, New Brunswick, Canada, to Gladys (Taylor) and Alison Steeves in 1932.

As a new graduate of McGill Medical School, he moved with his young bride, Eva Gosselin Steeves, to New Brunswick, Canada, where he was instrumental in building a hospital and curling rink in a small town. He made house calls, too, and once delivered seven babies on one full moonlit night. At the age of 34 he packed up his wife and four small children and moved to Detroit, Mich. to further his education and become a radiologist at William Beaumont Hospital. He earned the nickname “Flash”, setting records for reading and executing studies.

Jack and family then moved to the picturesque town of Skowhegan. He began his practice as a radiologist where he employed the cutting edge techniques of the time. He also had a practice in Kansas and he did tenum locum substituting doctors, as needed, in several states. During this time, he also founded Strawberry Hill Farms making maple syrup and raising polled Hereford cattle. The maple business became one of the biggest in the state and a highlight in his life. Jack and three others organized Maple Syrup Sunday, an event that has now become a national focus.

Jack was always very proud of his family and German heritage. A historical family winter meal was an heirloom bean dried on strings and prepared with a pork roast. Jack had a very strong work ethic and made sure his five kids and wife were always very busy making hay, hauling sap, cutting wood, making cement, selling syrup, putting up a building a year, etc. He would tease we were earning a nickel/hour. Jack loved people from all walks of life but did not tolerate what he judged as laziness.

Jack was a very determined man. One time he wanted to build a new camp road at Lake Wesserunsett, but there was a power pole in the way. The power company said they could not move the pole without special circumstances. Unexplainably, the next day there was a freak storm and trees were uprooted, water from the lake literally poured in the front of the cottage through every crack, and lightning struck. The power pole was shattered into many pieces. The power company weakly tried to accuse Jack, but gave up, and moved the pole to where he wanted it.

Jack’s surviving family include Eva; and his children Linda (and Myron Haith), Susan, John and (Diane Morrison), Kimberly (and Frank Schlehr), and Jeremy (and Christina Lovett); his grandchildren Josh and Tamara, Jacquelyn and David, Zane, Spenser, Julia, Jacob, Madeleine, Eva, Isabelle, Jack, Elizabeth, and Samuel; and his great-grandkids Harper and Steevie.

A celebration of life will be planned for some time in the future. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Smart and Edwards Funeral Home, http://www.SmartandEdwardsFH.com.

Jack will be greatly missed by many.

Jack was a life member of the Kora Shriners, donations in his honor may be made to

Kora Shriners Children’s Hospital Burn Unit,

C/O Kora Shrine Center,

11 Sabattus St.,

Lewiston, ME 04240



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