William R. Stecker, 78, Formerly of Woodstock

William R. Stecker, 78, Inverness, Fla., formerly of Woodstock, died Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015.

He was born Jan. 3, 1937, to Ralph and Cora (Wilcox) Stecker in Palatine.

On Aug. 2, 1958, he married Anita Moritz in Woodstock.

He grew up on a farm in rural Woodstock and was a member of 4-H and FFA. He graduated from Woodstock High School in 1955 and served in the Navy from February 1956 to December 1957.

He was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, retiring in 1993. After retirement, he moved to Raymondville, Texas, where he enjoyed helping “his ladies” in various ways. He returned to Illinois  for three summers to work at the Chicago Northwest K.O.A., Union. He enjoyed camping and traveling. He and his wife traveled to every state except Hawaii, only because they couldn’t drive there.

He was a member of the Moose and the First Lutheran Church, Inverness, Fla. He expressed his faith by saying the Lord’s Prayer.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Linda (Larry) O’Donnell and Bobbi (Mike) Buss; seven grandchildren, Kelly (Chad) Burtelson, Erica (Darrin) Donoho, William (Alyssa) O’Donnell, Mark (fiancee Lauren Diamond) O’Donnell, Shawn (Paige) Buss, David Buss and Steven Buss; seven great-grandchildren, Ian, Gavin and Xander Burtelson, Laila and Winston Donoho, and Samantha and Abigail Buss; three siblings, Carol (Ferd) Raffel, Ralph (Shirley) Stecker and Marian Lang; and many nieces, nephews and good friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Anna (Martens) Moritz; his father-in-law, George Moritz; three brothers-in-law,  Ralph Lang, David Moritz and G. Robert Moritz; and a sister-in-law, Leona Moritz.

A memorial service was held Nov. 7 at Grace Fellowship Church, Woodstock.

Memorials can be made in his honor to the charity of the donor’s choice.