Dwayne Julian Steinle, 88, Parsons, passed away at 1:55 A.M., Thursday, February 27, 2020 at the Parsons Good Samaritan Center after a brief illness.
Dwayne was born July 18, 1931 in Parsons, KS to Henry G. and Leola A. (Lohman) Steinle. He grew up attending Parsons schools. He was active in tennis and football.
During his high school and college years, he worked part time as a photographer taking portraits. He attended Labette Community College before transferring to Ottawa University, majoring in math. While attending Ottawa University, Dwayne was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. After basic training he was sent to a special school to become a crystal grinder in the signal corp. However, when he arrived in Korea, he was put in charge of a photo lab in the signal depot. After returning from Korea, Dwayne graduated from Ottawa University.
On December 20, 1956 Dwayne and Betty J. Murnan were married.
On December 20, 1956 Dwayne and Betty J. Murnan were married.
That same year he opened Dwayne’s Photo. While running Dwayne’s Photo, he also worked part time for several years as a private investigator doing photo surveillance for insurance companies. Dwayne’s Photo changed and grew over time. It began as a small photo lab doing black and white work for stores in the local area. Kodak strongly advised Dwayne against getting into color film processing. They thought Parsons KS was too small to justify it. Despite the advice, Dwayne proceeded with his plan. In the 1970’s Dwayne’s Photo added photo drive-up kiosks. He had 19 locations in the tri-state area. In the late 1980’s and 1990’s Dwayne’s Photo changed focus to doing special kinds of film for national retailers. In the 1990’s Dwayne’s Photo was processing all the black & white film and slide film for Wal-Mart stores across the entire country. By the end of the 1990’s Dwayne’s Photo employed 200 people. During that period, Dwayne’s son, Grant, joined him in managing the business, and later took over day to day operations.
In 2010, Dwayne’s Photo gained international recognition for being the last photo lab in the world to process Kodachrome slide film. The Today Show and CBS Sunday Morning came to Parsons to interview him and both did a segment on Dwayne and the photo lab. There was a front-page story in the New York Times about Dwayne’s Photo and the end of Kodachrome. A few years later a Netflix movie was made called, “Kodachrome” An actor played Dwayne in the movie. Dwayne personally shot the last roll of Kodachrome film ever processed and it contained pictures of his family.
Dwayne was active in various organizations including PMA (Photo Marketing Association), Parsons Rotary Club, the First Baptist Church, and the Iron Horse Historical Society.
He is survived by his wife Betty Steinle of the home. A son Grant (Emily) Steinle of Parsons Kansas. A daughter Maura Carter of Joplin MO. A daughter Leah (Craig) Newland of Parsons, KS. A daughter Cyrele (Rob) Clausen of Emporia, KS, and nine grandchildren.
Private graveside services will be held at Oakwood Cemetery with Rev. Tim Bever officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Monday, March 2, 2020 at the
Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church or to the Parsons Historical Society Museum and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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