Robert M. "Bob" Steck

Robert M. "Bob" Steck, age 94, U.S. Army veteran 1954-1956, a lifelong resident of Naperville, IL, passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at his son's home, surrounded by his family. He was born on September 14, 1931, in Aurora, IL.
Bob was the beloved husband of nearly 70 years to Shirley Sovereign Steck, whom he married on February 20, 1954, and who preceded him in death on January 30, 2024. Bob missed Shirley every day since her passing. Their family takes joy in knowing they are together again. He is the loving father of Sindy (Dean) Gregory of Sugar Grove, IL, Stacy (Marty) Wiora of Naperville, Selaine (the late Jerry) Stegmann of Sandwich, IL, Steven (Heidi) Steck of Plainfield, IL and Sonya (Greg) Shuey of Bloomington, IL, adored grandfather of Janeé (Jacob) Kazda, Jalina (Jason) Reinhardt and James (Mindy) Gregory; Kelli (Rose) Forg and Kelsey Wiora; Selynda (Ryder) Kern, Shauna (Chad) Barding and Sandy (Cole) Henert; Chase, Mia and Caleb Steck; Natalie, Danielle, John and Lauren Shuey, cherished great-grandfather of sixteen, devoted son of the late Doyle and Esther (nee Hollingworth) Steck, son-in-law of the late Ray and Elsie Sovereign, dear brother of the late Charles (the late Patricia) Steck, the late Jean (the late Don) Sigmund and the late Marilyn (the late Bob) Grewe, fond cousin, uncle, great-uncle, great-great uncle and friend of many.
Bob was born on September 14th, 1931, Bob was raised on a farm just south of Naperville. He worked on his father's farm (and two uncles' farms) until a few years after he graduated from Naperville Community High School in 1949. He married Shirley Sovereign Steck on February 20th, 1954.
Growing up on the farm, Bob developed a deep value for hard work and personal growth. He was always learning something new. For example, when TVs were becoming popular in the 50s, he took courses on TV repair. Bob joined the U.S. Army and went to Germany, where he served as a radar tech before honorable discharge in 1956. He worked as a firefighter, a bricklayer, and a Professional Airway Systems Specialist at the FAA. Always busy, he continued to work at Triple 'S' Services, a business he owned along with his son and son in law, after retirement.
Bob was famously stubborn and never quit. He figured he could fix just about anything, and so he kept everything forever. As Bob often said while tinkering with an appliance or gadget, "They just don't make things like they used to." After surviving a heart attack at 76, Bob naturally decided to pick up jogging. It was not uncommon to find him wrangling Christmas lights into place or halfway up a tree with a chainsaw well into his 80s. Bob had a keen green thumb and spent many hours outside, working in his garden, enjoying a big cup of unsweetened iced tea, while Shirley tended her flowers.
Most important to Bob was his family. The strong-willed Bob and spirited Shirley were quite a match. They loved each other immensely and enjoyed nearly 70 years of marriage until Shirley's passing in 2024. Together they had five children, each of whom remembers Bob for his support and love during all phases of life, from school sports to first jobs to parenthood and beyond. He was a teacher of life lessons who was also quick to make everyone laugh. His legacy of perseverance, love, and fun will live on in all who knew him.
A memorial visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St., Naperville, IL 60540.
A celebration of Bob's life will follow Wednesday, 12:30 PM in the funeral home.
Inurnment will follow at Naperville Cemetery, Naperville.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob's memory may be made to: Feed My Starving Children, 555 Exchange Ct, Aurora, IL 60504, (630) 851-0404, https://www.fmsc.org/
For more information, please visit www.friedrich-jones.com or call (630) 355-0213.