Barbara J. Steckly, 83, of Bryan, passed away on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at Community Hospitals and Wellness Centers in Bryan.
She was born on March 3, 1934 in Elkhart, IN to Salem “Bus” and Grace (Wood) LeRoy.
Barb graduated from Elkhart Central High School in 1951 and after graduating she became an Arthur Murray dance instructor in Elkhart.
For over 30 years she worked for Brown-Bigelow Publishing Company and the Lee Wayne Corporation as a sales executive. She was at one time a Conway Diet Instructor. Barb attended Faith United Methodist Church and Trinity Lutheran Church both in Bryan. She was a member of Toastmasters International and was a certified Master Gardener.
Barb is survived by her children, Brenda K. Steckly of Elkhart, IN, Laura (Mark) Nekola of Mascoutah, IN and Hans (Tracy) Steckly of Winston-Salem, NC; fiancé, Don L. Collins of Defiance; seven grandchildren, Katja Thomas, Casey Feil, Sydney Feil, Natasha, Jordan and Madeleine Nekola and Gigi Steckly; and one sister, Rose Marie Pickrell of Elkhart, IN.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Arnold “Arnie” F. Steckly on August 2, 1997.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 11, 2018 from 12-3 p.m. at the Thompson Funeral Home on Main Street in Montpelier. A funeral service will take place on Monday, February 12, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Mary Beth Smith-Gunn to officiate. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Montpelier. Donations may be made in Barb’s memory to Faith United Methodist Church. Online condolences can be left at www.thethompsonfuneralhome.com.
