Richard (Dick) Hugh Steckler was born on Oct. 26, 1938 in Princeton, Indiana to Charles P. and Mary Ellen (Frey) Steckler. He passed away on March 9, 2026.
Dick considered his life blessed and loved sharing his memories and stories. He will not be remembered at a funeral, and many will be unable to attend a later memorial, so a more detailed tribute to his life with pictures is being shared at https://evansfh.com. The hope is that it is both interesting and humorous – like Dick.
Farm Life
On Dec. 8, 1943, the family moved to Dick’s grandfather’s farm near Mt. Carmel, Illinois. Here, Dick developed the strong work ethic that took him through the rest of his life.
Dick vs. Nuns
Dick entered grade school in September 1944. For the next eight grades, he attended St. Mary’s Catholic School. He was a budding engineer with a gift of gab — two qualities not always appreciated by the nuns. One of the first things people say when remembering Dick is “He told the best stories!” That trait caused him to spend many recesses writing 100 times “I will not talk in class.”
St. Mary’s schoolyard shared an alley with a jewelry store where Dick discovered a treasure trove of great “junk.” The jewelry store finds along with various discarded rubber cars, trucks and tractors from a nearby Five and Dime made interesting things to play with instead of paying attention in class. At the end of each school year, the nuns gave Dick’s dad a bag full of watch parts and toy contraband they confiscated during the year. The nuns passed Dick on to the next grade where his activities would be repeated.
Coming of Age at Seven
After a little on-the-job tractor training, Dick’s dad told him to come in at noon for dinner (lunch) or if the tractor ran out of gas, whichever was first. How do you know it’s noon without a watch? According to his dad, “When you get hungry and notice the sun is about directly overhead, get off the tractor and put your back to the sun. If you can step on the shadow of your head, it’s noon.” Not particularly dependable on cloudy days.
High School — The Future Takes Shape and Records Are Set
In 1952, Dick began high school, where he excelled. He participated in the Debate Club and was the president of the National Honor Society. His athletic abilities also became evident. He was on the football, basketball and track teams, lettering in each multiple times.
During Dick’s senior year in 1956, the track team was the first Illinois high school to participate in the Southern Indiana Relays. Dick referred to this as “a God thing.”
Competing in the 100-yard dash, at 10.2 Dick beat a runner who was undefeated for the year. In doing so, Dick tied his uncle’s record set in the 1930s. Dick and his uncle also share the 880-yard relay at one minute 33.3 seconds. Dick holds the 220-yard dash at 21.9 seconds. Their records were unbroken, before events changed to being measured in meters, and will stand.
More “God Things”
A football scout from University of Kentucky was at the relays. He shouted, “Who was that?” as Dick crossed the finish line. Dick’s dad was nearby helping time third place. The conversation started. Did Dick play football? Why, yes, he did.
The next weekend Dick and his parents were in Lexington, Kentucky where Dick was offered a four-year grant-in-aid scholarship. He received a letter of congratulations from his new head coach, Blanton Collier. During Dick’s time with the Wildcats, another well-known coach, Don Shula, joined them.
Two of Dick’s football teammates went on to play professionally. Lou Michaels started his career with the Rams, and Bob Talamini (Dick’s roommate) started with the Oilers then played with Joe Namath and the Jets, winning Super Bowl III.
Military and Marriage
Dick joined Air Force ROTC and was immediately commissioned after receiving his diploma from UK. He reported to active-duty in September 1961. Not long afterward, Dick attended Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia for two years to earn his master’s degree in mechanical engineering — and play a lot of golf. But the highlight of the 1960s was becoming a father to Rich and Kristin.
Dick volunteered for duty in Vietnam from 1970-1971. Afterward, he was at UC Berkeley from 1971-1974 to teach ROTC and recruit for the USAF. With unrest in the country and anti-war sentiment on many college campuses, he joked he wasn’t sure which assignment carried the greater risk.
Safety First
Dick’s office walls are covered with commendations and awards from his 26 years of service, but one assignment he seemed proudest of was director of safety. Approximately 53,000 military and civilian personnel with the Air Force Communication Command/AFCC were scattered worldwide in potentially hazardous locations. Dick was tasked with fixing what caused a 20-year record of an average of 22 accidental casualties per year in the history of AFCC. In his two years as director, Dick changed policies and procedures that reduced that number to six — total.
Next Chapter(s)
On Oct. 1, 1987, Dick retired from the Air Force. Skiing and golf seemed like the ideal retirement, but he quickly realized he needed more. A high school friend at McDonnell Douglas made a few introductions and Dick was hired to work with Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. A big move, but a civilian job with ties to the military was a good fit.
1989 was a big year. At the top of the list was commissioning Kristin into the Navy. This was a groundbreaking period for women in the military, and he couldn’t have been prouder — even if it wasn’t the Air Force.
Never Say “Never”
Co-workers at McDonnell Douglas insisted Dick meet their financial adviser, Susan, but not professionally — on a blind date. They were equally insistent with Susan. Neither Dick nor Susan was interested. After two months of canceled dates, they finally gave in just to put an end to the matchmakers’ badgering.
On July 21, 1989, Dick and Susan met. Susan was 30 minutes late due to a client meeting. Dick’s idea of being on time was 30 minutes early. The meeting didn’t have a promising start, but they agreed to go to the Muny Opera the next day. They saw each other the next day, and the next day, and…Dick said he took Susan to every show at the Muny that season just to hear her sing the national anthem.
Over Labor Day, Susan attended a small family reunion at Dick’s sister’s home in Dallas. On the way back to St. Louis, she jokingly proposed — and he seriously accepted.
House hunting began the next weekend. When they stepped foot in the last house they saw on the first day of looking, they knew they were home.
On Oct. 26, 1989, Dick’s 51st birthday, they closed on the house, walked across the street from the title company to the courthouse and got a marriage license.
At 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1989, at #11 Aberdeen Place, Dick married Susan Elmore Malcolm in a ceremony officiated by her brother, Bruce Elmore, and attended by a small group of family and friends.
Matchmakers Were Right
Dick proved Susan wrong for thinking he would be intolerant of her work, and she proved him wrong that no “stockbrokers” could be trusted. He was her biggest backer for their entire marriage. After his second retirement, he became Susan’s on-call branch office administrator when she opened an Edward Jones branch. For a retired colonel, he did remarkably well at taking instruction, and she only threatened to take his keys twice.
More to Learn
Boeing offered to pay for certain employees to further their education, and Dick decided that was something he needed (wanted) to do. Washington University was a block away from home, and they had an excellent engineering program.
He worked full days and attended classes at night. In 1999, at the age of 61, Dick received his second master’s degree — Master of Engineering Management — from Washington University.
Faith and Family
In the early 1990s, Dick and Susan became members of Kirkwood Road Christian Church — a pivotal move for their faith and marriage. Dick served as deacon of buildings and grounds, offered Communion meditations and volunteered in the nursery. Susan sang with the worship team. They both hosted a monthly brunch called “Life in the Blender” for women with blended families.
Strong Roots
With all the places Dick lived and all the experiences he had, Mt. Carmel was always close to his heart. In 2007, Dick received another honor that meant the world to him — he was inducted into the Mt. Carmel High School Hall of Fame.
Full Circle
The University of Kentucky made history on May 20, 2017 by hosting the first Honor Flight sponsored solely by a university. Dick was invited to participate and Rich accompanied him. After 50 years, the Vietnam vets in attendance received the heroes’ welcome they deserved.
God’s Creatures
Research indicates that people who treat animals with kindness are often more empathic and kindhearted toward other people. Dick could have been a case study for this. It was Dick’s nature to help and give. He believed all gifts are from God and it is our responsibility — and privilege — to give back.
Rolla and Houston
Dick retired from Boeing earlier than planned to help Susan’s parents, Carlos and Jeanne Elmore, while a handicap accessible home was built for them. After Susan’s mom’s death in 2003, doctors recommended someone move closer to her dad or he go to assisted living. Susan moved her business to the closest A.G. Edwards branch in Rolla and Dick spent his time between Houston and Rolla. Later, A.G. Edwards asked Susan to open a branch in Houston, and Dick was instrumental in the build out. They moved to Houston permanently, and Susan’s dad was able to remain independent for the rest of his years.
If Dick had no other reason for accolades, the care given and sacrifices made for Susan’s parents would be enough. He did it all without hesitation. Her parents called him their “guardian angel” and they loved him as their own (at times it could be argued even more so).
Susan’s parents were often asked if Dick was bored living in a small rural Missouri town after living so many places in the world. He wasn’t. Dick fell in love with this community and the surroundings. He loved the years he was the local Santa Claus. Their home and property were his little slice of heaven. He was happiest just being here, surrounded by nature and the menagerie he referred to as “the kids.”
Dick’s life and who he was as a person can be summed up by Scriptures he believed and practiced. Some favorites are Luke 6:38; Malachi 3:10; James 1:19; Galatians 5:22-23 and Isaiah 40:29-31.
Dick is deeply loved and greatly missed. But praise God that as Isaiah says, the colonel is soaring on wings like eagles!
Dick is survived by his wife, Susan; son, Rich (Leslie) Steckler of Boise, Idaho; daughter, Kristin (Ted) Veazey of Ashburn, Virginia; sister, Nancy (Norm) Duncan of Hot Springs, Arkansas; grandchildren, Pete Steckler, Joy, Hope and Peace Veazey; his own “guardian angels,” Bob and Deena Elmore (and family) of Houston; nieces and nephews, and so many very special friends he loved dearly.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Tom Steckler; sister, Sara Caddell; and granddaughter, Abigail Steckler.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. For those wishing to make a tribute gift, suggestions are Ozark Christian College, Joplin; Mission K-9 Rescue, Magnolia, Texas; Watching Over Whiskers (through Community Foundation of the Ozarks); or First Christian Church, Houston.
