STEELE, Stanley Earl "Bud"
STEELE, FISHER, MARQUIS, MCKINNIE, GUTHRIE, PARMER, MCDONALD, BASSETT, PARKER, PALMER, COX
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/3/2018 at 04:26:26
Stanley "Bud" Earl Steele
June 17, 1930 ~ December 21, 2017Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, December 28, 2017Stanley Earl Steele, age 87, of Leon, Iowa, the son of Earl and Nona Gertrude (Fisher) Steele, was born June 17, 1930, in Des Moines, Iowa. He left this life on December 21, 2017, from the Decatur County Hospital in Leon, Iowa.
Bud was a nickname that was short for “My Buddy” given to him by his father when he was a child. He was known as Bud the rest of his life. He grew up in the Woodburn, Iowa area attending school and graduating in 1948. He attended Simpson College on basketball and baseball scholarships. He was optioned by both the Cleveland Indians and the St. Louis Browns. Bud spoke with excitement as he relived the thrill of playing try out games with hopes of playing ball with Bob Feller, Bill Veeck, and Jack North.
In the mid 1940’s Bud noticed a beautiful, blonde girl by the name of Gloria Jean Marquis, who as time went on, found all his love. They were married on July 23, 1950. To this union were born, Christine Marie and Cynthia Jean, two beautiful daughters.
After graduating from Drake University, with his teaching certificate in hand, Bud taught school at Red Wing, Attica, Dallas, and Montezuma, Iowa. He always had a passion for sports, especially when young people were involved. He was an educator for eight years, before deciding that teaching class, driving a school bus, and coaching was not enough to support his young family. He took to the road and became an auto parts salesman and continued in sales from then on until his retirement.
In 1965, Bud purchased the Massey-Ferguson dealership in Osceola, Iowa from his father, Earl. “Dad said not to sell combines, because there were too many moving parts.” After Earl retired out of the business, Bud sold several combines! He sold the dealership in 1978, then went into Iowa and Missouri real estate sales until his retirement. He was an agent then became a broker in his own office. Bud and Gloria went on to manage Senior Apartments in Des Moines, Harlan, and Bellevue, Iowa. They lived in Pattonsburg and Trenton, Missouri before moving to Leon, Iowa in 2002. To keep occupied, Bud drove the Trolley several days a week in Decatur and Ringgold Counties. On the subject of driving, Bud said, “I was afraid of motorcycles, so I took up flying. All you need to know there is how to land.” Over the years, Bud owned five airplanes.
While the girls and the grandchildren were growing up, Bud rarely missed any of their games. He and Gloria thought family vacations were important, so they took a trip every summer. After the girls were grown, they took their grandchildren along on their trips. Bud always wanted to share his knowledge with his family and anyone who would listen. As an adult, he played baseball on the Woodburn Town Team until he said it was time to quit because he couldn’t run anymore.
Bud was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints in Osceola and enjoyed teaching youth and adults. Bud completed all the chairs of the Masonic Lodge of 212 in Woodburn and served as Worshipful Master in 1963.
Bud and Gloria recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. When asked about being married for over six decades, Bud responded with, “Oh, it’ll probably last, if I don’t screw up too bad.”
Preceding him in death were his parents; two sisters and their husbands, Frances & Marion McKinnie and Cora & Kenneth Guthrie; son-in-law, Dean Parmer; brother-in-law, Marney Marquis; and nephew, Kenny Wayne Guthrie.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria Steele of Leon, Iowa; daughters, Chris and Patrick McDonald of Pattonsburg, Missouri and Cynthia Parmer of Van Wert, Iowa; four grandchildren, Gregory & Amy Bassett, Holly & Jason Parker, Christopher Bassett & Shana Palmer, and Patrick & Wendy McDonald; 13 great grandchildren, Severina Bassett, Ian Bassett, Nevan Parker, Kieran Parker, Kelan Parker, Lilly Bassett, Charlie Bassett, Abby Bassett, McKinna Palmer, Nathan McDonald, Jacob McDonald, Megan McDonald, and Jared McDonald; great, great grandson, Jonathan Cox; nieces and nephews; and other relatives and many friends.
Memorial services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints in Osceola, Iowa at 12 Noon on Saturday, December 30, 2017. Visitation will be held 11 a.m. – 12 Noon on Saturday.
Interment was made at Woodburn Cemetery, Woodburn, Iowa.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2017
Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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