Cecil Leroy Stecher

Cecil Leroy Stecher, age 85, of Baldwin City, KS passed away at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, July 12, 2010. He was born southwest of Baldwin City on June 14, 1925 the fourth child of Ada (Lutter) and Roy W. Stecher. He graduated from Prairie City Grade School and from Baldwin High School in 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February of 1943 and served three years, two months and seven days, being honorably discharged on May 2, 1946. He was a gunner on a Torpedo Bomber. He then went to one year of college. On April 2, 1947 he was united in marriage to Lucile Stewart in Iola, KS. Three daughters were born to this union; they divorced in 1974. On May 2, 1979 he was united in marriage to Laura Grayce Wigle in Miami, OK. She preceded him in death in November 1979. Cecil was a farmer from 1947 to 1969. He did carpentry work from 1969-1970. In 1970 Cecil went to work for the Farmers Home Administration until his retirement in 1987. In this work he was a construction inspector and a real estate appraiser. Cecil love to fish, hunt and was a champion trap shooter. In 1962 he broke 100 straight 16 yard targets at the Kansas State Trap Shoot. He also won the runner up trophy at the Nebraska State shoot that year. In 1963 he won the Nebraska State Handicap with a score of 97 out of 100. In 1953 Cecil started trout fishing at the state parks in Missouri. He caught his limit of six in 22 minutes. in 1956 he caught a 63 Ib. Spoonbill. He caught many 50 Ib. fish in the years that followed. In 1970 he caught a record 8 Ib. Walleye at the Pomona Reservoir. He also was a good hunter and was still hunting at the age of 84, having shot a 10 point buck. Cecil belonged to the Ottawa Co Op, the Kansas Farm Bureau and was a 60 year member of the Lloyd Beaton American Legion Post #228. Survivors include 3 daughters; 7 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; 1 sister, Annabelle Losorith of Atchison, KS and 1 brother, Glen Stecher of Atchison, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife and one sister, Irene Ball. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Prairie City Cemetery, where he will be laid next to his wife, Grayce. Memorial contributions may be made to Prairie Paws Animal Shelter, formerly know as the Bea Martin Peck Animal Shelter and sent in care of Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, PO Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067. Online condolences my be shared with the family at www.lamb-roberts.com.