Clifford "Cliff" Jay Steinhauser

Clifford Jay Steinhauser, age 86, passed away peacefully on April 26 ^th , 2021. Preceded in death by his wife of 64 years Patricia Ann (Kellett) Steinhauser who passed away on December 24 ^th , 2020.

Cliff lived an amazing life. Born in New England, North Dakota, Cliff and his family moved to north Minneapolis where he attended De La Salle High School, served in the US Army 10 ^th and 1 ^st Divisions in Germany after the Korean War.  After his service, he attended Marquette University, moved back to Minneapolis, and met his future wife Pat.

As a young man, Cliff worked for Blair Merwin, owner of Merwin Drug in North Minneapolis at the corner of Lyndale and Broadway. After military service and college, he began working for Blair again, first as a stock boy and years later he became the manager of a newer Merwin Drug in Robbinsdale.

Cliff was an incredibly hard worker. He threw his all into Merwin Drug in Robbinsdale. For many years he would be the first at the store and the last to leave. When Blair retired, Cliff bought the drug store.

Generations of kids from the north side got their start at Merwin Drug. Cliff would teach them how to properly scoop ice cream and make malts at the store’s soda fountain. Ever the showman, he would turn a properly made malt upside down to show it had the right consistency.

Many people raised in Robbinsdale remember Merwin Drug as a town center. Not only could you get a prescription filled, but you could have breakfast, lunch and dinner in the 120-seat restaurant, buy comic books, or buy a gift in the gift shop. Merwin Drug was the success it was because of Cliff.

Cliff was active among the independent drug store owners in the Twin Cities. He was the chairman of the board of Eagle Drug, a member-owned drug wholesaler. He also purchased or built other drug stores in Golden Valley, Maple Grove, Andover, and White Bear Lake (Reed Drug).

Cliff loved telling stories. He often told the story about waiting for a train in Paris to go back to his base in Germany. He went into a café to order breakfast. He ordered milk to drink, but the waiter insisted he order a glass of champagne instead. He regularly would continue to do this, even sneaking a small bottle into his favorite breakfast place.

Cliff loved to read history, play chess, travel, and climb mountains in Wyoming. He was also a private pilot; his family remembers many a harrowing flight with Cliff. One time he flew his niece back to college in Appleton, WI. Cliff was only authorized in Visual Flight Rules. So, when the sky clouded up, he dropped below the cloud deck, only to see a grain elevator straight ahead. Cliff managed to avoid crashing that day and landed safely.

Most of all Cliff loved his family. He is survived by his four sons, Rick (Amy), Mike (Janice), Mark (Jill), and Dan (Brenda); eighteen grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Colleen (Ed Foley); preceded in death by his parents, Cliff and SaByna (Carroll) Steinhauser; sister Sheila Carlson; sister Viveene and infant brother Fredrick (Ricky.) He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

There will be a private family service and interment at Gethsemane Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for both Pat and Cliff will be held later this summer. All family, friends, former employees, and customers will be invited.