Michael Karl Steffee, 84, of Homer City, passed away peacefully September 7, 2026, surrounded by his family at Rose Haven Personal Care Home. He was born November 28, 1941 in Reading, PA. He attended Reading Senior High School and graduated from Eisenhower Senior High School in Norristown, PA in 1959. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1959 and received an honorable discharge in 1965. During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, he landed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba with the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marines Division FMF for the duration of the crisis.
Michael enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in September 1965 and graduated in January 1966 from the State Police Academy in Hershey, PA. As a state trooper he was assigned to Troop A Greensburg and served in Greensburg, Indiana, Kiski Valley, Pittsburgh and Somerset Barracks. From 1972-1976 he attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania while stationed at the Indiana Barracks and received a Bachelor of Science in Criminology. In 1978 he was honored as the Pennsylvania State Trooper of the Year. In 1980 he was detached to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and assigned to the Organized Crime West – Pittsburgh, as an investigator in the White Collar Crime Detail. Michael served in this capacity until his retirement from the state police in April 1986.
Michael received an appointment as the District Justice in the Homer City District Court by Governor Richard Thornburg in April 1986. Michael was elected to this position three times until his retirement in 2001. He was appointed as a Senior Magisterial District Judge by the PA Supreme Court upon retirement and served in that capacity until 2014.
Between 1972 and 2001 Michael was also an instructor in the Criminal Justice Training Center at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for the Lethal Weapons and Municipal Police Training Acts.
Michael was truly one of a kind. He had a passion for the outdoors and cherished every opportunity to hunt and fish, especially when those moments were shared with his sons and grandson. Some of the happiest memories were made in the woods, creating memories that will be treasured by his family for generations to come. He also loved cheering on the Wildcats on Friday nights at Memorial Field for almost 60 years especially during the years he could proudly watch his grandson suit up and play under the lights.
Michael was preceded in death by his wife, the former Maryann Kennedy of Norristown, PA and his parents Karl and Vera Steffee of Reading, PA. Michael is survived by his four children, Paul Steffee, Center Barnstead, N.H., Richard Steffee, Indiana, PA, Shawn Steffee, Indiana, PA, and Susanne Steffee, Homer City, PA. He is also survived by his three grandchildren, Elizabeth Cullum, Annapolis, MD, Kayla Daugherty, Indiana, PA, and Shawn Steffee II, Indiana, PA and four great-grandchildren, Bryson Cullum, Finn and Molly Daugherty, and Shawn Steffee III.
A special thanks to Adoration Hospice – formally Grain Hospice, and to the staff at Rose Haven Personal Care for their devoted care for Michael while he was there.
A private graveside service will be held at Our Lady of the Assumption Cemetery, Lucernemines, PA with Military Rites by the Homer City American Legion Post 493. Donations may be made in Michael’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
