Gail Floether Steinhilber

Gail Floether Steinhilber, Oshkosh artist, joined our Lord and Savior on December 21, 2025. She was at her home in Scottsdale, AZ. Gail was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on January 15, 1943. She spent her life creating beautiful jewelry, photography, and enjoying the outdoors. Her love of flowers was evident in her photography and her landscaping.

Gail approached life with an infectious passion, evident in her deep love for the water. Her two lakefront homes—one on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin and the other on Lake Serena in Arizona—served as cherished retreats where she found solace and joy. Following her recent recovery from a stroke, she demonstrated remarkable, courageous determination, refusing to let her challenges hinder her love of travel and adventure. This past May, she traveled to Italy with her sister, Vicki. Along with visiting Vicki and family in Texas in October, embraced life and its experiences at every turn.

As an artist and gemologist, Gail’s creative spirit flourished in many forms. She channeled her artistic vision into jewelry making and photography, leaving a lasting impact on those who had the pleasure of experiencing her work. Gail graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and earned her master's degree in art metal from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Upon graduation, she returned to UWO as the Fine Arts Director at the student union, where she established a photography lab, jewelry design studio, and facilitated various art exhibits, speakers, and events such as Madrigal dinners. In honor of her contributions, an art gallery bearing her name stands as a testament to her passion and commitment to the arts.

Gail's joyous 25-year marriage to Jack Steinhilber was filled with love and laughter until his passing in 2009.

She is survived by her only sister, Vicki Terry, and her husband, Bill of Dallas, Texas, their children, her two nephews, Dr. Bradford Terry, and children Jackson and Austin, Grosse Pointe, MI; and Scott and Bekah Terry, Callen, Audrey, and Brooke, Austin, Texas; her stepchildren, J.D. Steinhilber, Leslie, and Jennifer, along with her step-grandchildren: Ella, Lilly, Zachary, Evan, Haden, Jack, Charles, and Harry.

A reflection of her generous spirit and zest for life, Gail will be tremendously missed by everyone who had the privilege to know her. We find peace in the knowledge that she is free from earthly pain and is now with her Heavenly Father. As Gail once embraced the world, she now continues on a grand adventure, doing it "her way."

We invite family and friends to gather to honor and celebrate Gail's extraordinary life. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM until the time of service at 12:00 PM, taking place on January 3, 2025, at St. Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church, located at 808 N Main St, Oshkosh, WI 54901, where we will reflect on the countless memories. Burial will be held Monday, January 5, 2025 at Riverside Cemetery in Oshkosh at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers and in honor of her love for the arts, donations can be made to the UW-O student union, or the charity of your choice.