Richard L. “Dick” Steele
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Funeral services for Richard L. “Dick” Steele, 94, Lawrence, previously Topeka until 2012, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 30, 2017 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Private family burial will be held at Penwell-Gabel Cemetery in Topeka, KS. Dick passed away Saturday, March 25th in Lawrence.
He was born January 27, 1923 in Smith Center, KS to Robert and Mattie (Rice) Steele.
He was a graduate of Smith Center High School and Kansas State University, with Electrical Engineering and Business Administration degrees. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps from 1943 – 1946.
Dick’s employment career was at Kansas State Highway Commission and Kansas Department of Transportation, starting as a civil engineer, then computer programming manager and systems analyst.
He was a member of Countryside United Methodist Church, Countryside Sparkplugs, Topeka Engineers, and Kansas Engineering Society.
He enjoyed playing bridge, golf and tennis, crossword and Sudoku puzzles, and was an amateur ham radio operator.
He married Ruth Beisner June 20, 1948 in Osborne, KS. She preceded him in death in 2012. He is survived by daughters, Karen (Marvin) Sessler, Ellinwood, KS, Cindy (Stephen) Carttar, Lawrence; two grandchildren; three step grandsons; three step granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; six step great-grandchildren; and sister, Carolyn Klawuhn, Woodburn, OR.
The family will greet friends at 9:30 a.m. one hour prior to the service at the mortuary.
Memorials may be made in his name to the Topeka Salvation Army or KSU Foundation (for College of Engineering) www.found.ksu.edu/give/RLSteele and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
I express my respect and appreciation for the life of Dick Steele who gave his time and his talent to Kansas. To his family, I express my affection and say that they can rejoice in having this man as a part of their lives. God speed.