Leonard Steckler

Leonard F. "Bud" Steckler of Vincennes Passed Away on Friday, November 15 at the Age of 84, at the Lodge of the Wabash.Leonard "Bud" Steckler was born November 28, 1934 on a farm in rural Knox County to Leonard William Steckler and Sarah Alice (Trimble) Steckler. He worked as a machine fabricator at Packaging Corporation of America for 42 years before retiring in 1997. He also enjoyed working as an independent builder, bricklayer and mason. He attended Central Catholic High School in Vincennes. In 1955 he enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served his country until 1958, mostly at Fort Riley, Kansas. He married his wife of 63 years, Marilyn "Judy" (Hudson) Steckler in 1956.Bud was an avid outdoorsman who earned the nickname "One Shot" from his many successful big game hunting adventures throughout the U.S. and Canada. His trophies were handsomely displayed on the walls of his home, the foremost of which included moose, elk, caribou, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, whitetail and mule deer and wild boar, as well as full-mounted bears, mountain lion and even a 12-foot alligator. His children remember him for the many unusual pets that he brought home from his trips, including orphaned baby racoons, chicken hawks and even a skunk, which once found its way into the halls of Lincoln High School.He honed his hunting skills with decades of studying ballistics and big game lore, as well as through frequent practice at the Wabash Valley Sportsman's Club. He relished the challenge of elusive game and humane wildlife management, preferring to stalk his prizes on the move rather than from a tree stand or other fixed position. Relatively late in his vigorous life, Bud took two trophy whitetail deer by pistol that were entered into the Indiana State Record for non-typical whitetail deer hunting. Like most products of his successful hunts, they quickly found their way into his home freezers and his family's dinner table.In addition to these and even more daring adventures, Bud's hands-on hobbies included fishing, woodworking, welding,motorcycling, building unique motor vehicles, gardening and even scuba diving. He relaxed by sharing early morning breakfasts with his lifelong friends at the White Kitchen and,later, at the 6th Street McDonalds in Vincennes. Bud especially enjoyed the peace and solitude of southern Indiana's woodlands: Until shortly before his passing, he happily maintained a rugged outdoor camp at the site of his parents' original homestead along the Wabash River south of Vincennes.Bud was especially proud of the success of his five children: Steve (wife Gail) of Oxford, Maryland; Mitch (wife Susan), of Indianapolis; Brad (wife Brenda) of Indianapolis; Terri Stevens (husband Richard) of Burke, Virginia; and Diana Steckler-Sacino (husband Kevin Sweeney) of Zionsville. He also adored his fifteen grandchildren, ranging in age from 32 to 14. In order of birth, they are Matt, Zachary, Hannah, Ian, Keller, Spencer, David, Anna, Molly, Phillip, Madison,Jackson, Sydney, Aly and Savannah. He is also survived by his three sisters: Mary Jo Wilhelm of Hudson, Wisconsin;Patricia Watson of Speedway, Indiana; and Barbara "Bea" Steckler of Vincennes.Visitation will be held Friday, November 22nd from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Goodwin Funeral Home at 524 Broadway Street in Vincennes. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, November 23rd at Goodwin Funeral Home, with Chaplain Trevor Murray officiating.The family asks that memorial contributions be made in Bud's name to the National Parkinson's Foundation, the Knox County Relay for Life and the Salvation Army of Vincennes.