Samuel Joiner Steger

On January 6, 2024, Samuel Joiner Steger passed away at the age of 80 at his home in Buford, Georgia with his wife Bonnie and daughter Laura Tebbitt by his side.

Born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky on January 23, 1943, Sam was the son of the late Samuel Waggener Steger and the late Lela Catherine Joiner Steger of Princeton, Kentucky. He attended Caldwell County High School in Princeton before studying engineering at The Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. After graduating, Sam earned a Master’s degree in Structural Engineering from Georgia Tech and later earned an MBA from Georgia State University. While at Georgia Tech, he met Yvonne “Bonnie” Stack of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Following her graduation from Agnes Scott College, they were married on July 30, 1966.  He honored, loved, and cherished her for all of their 57-years together.

Sam served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and was deployed in Korea when his first daughter, Laura, was born in 1968.  As he continued in the Army Reserves, Sam began his career as a Civil Engineer in Atlanta, where he supervised the construction of numerous buildings locally and nationally, and oversaw real estate development for Equitable Life Insurance Company. Throughout his career Sam was admired by his colleagues for his integrity, work ethic, and detailed management skills, bringing projects from concept to completion. He also had a passion for the great outdoors. Whether he was camping and hiking with his beloved wife Bonnie, hunting with his friends, or volunteering as a Scout leader, he always found time to enjoy and appreciate nature.  Sam is a past commander of American Legion Post 134 in Fulton County, Georgia.    As a lifelong Baptist, he enjoyed Bible study and served as Deacon at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia before moving to Buford and joining the Ivy Creek Baptist Church. Sam’s faith was central to every facet of his life.

 At home, Sam was a loving husband, father and grandfather with a calm, caring demeanor and strong sense of honesty, humility, and optimism. As a gifted storyteller, he enjoyed sharing his knowledge of engineering with his daughters and granddaughters in simple, entertaining ways. And during his free time on Saturdays, Sam avidly cheered for Georgia Tech football, whether from Bobby Dodd Stadium or the comfort of his home.

Sam is survived by his wife, Bonnie; two daughters, Laura Tebbitt of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Steger-Hartzman of New Rochelle, New York, along with their husbands, Mark Tebbitt and Marc Hartzman; two granddaughters, Lela Ruth Hartzman, a student at Washington University in St. Louis, and Scarlett Ava Hartzman, a student at New Rochelle High School; and his sister, Marilyn Frazar, and her husband Ret. B.G. Joe Frazar III. Sam was a man of great faith who served his family, community, and country with love and honor.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, January 13 from 3:00 – 4:00 at Flanigan Funeral Home in Buford, Ga followed by a funeral service at 4:00 pm.   The burial will be a private ceremony at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton. In lieu of flowers, and should friends desire, contributions may be made to American Legion Post 134 in Fulton County.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.