Robert I. “Red” Steckel Jr., 90, of South Whitehall Township, died Jan. 8, 2023, holding the hand of his high school sweetheart and wife of 71 years, Elsie (Jessen).

Born in Easton, he was the son of Robert I. and Ethelyn (Bachman) Steckel Sr.

A 1949 graduate of Phillipsburg High School, he served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, earning the rank of staff sergeant.

He received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in business administration from Lafayette College and Lehigh University, respectively.

In 1963, he started a 34-year career at Air Products and Chemicals, retiring in 1996 as manager of corporate accounting.

A man devoted to his family and church, his primary concern until his final day was the well-being of his wife and children.

He was a 60-year dedicated member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.

He and his wife also supported many animal welfare organizations, serving as board members of Lehigh Valley Animal Rights Coalition where they ran the spay/neuter program for many years.

He enjoyed watching sports and always started the morning paper with the sports page.

A lifelong Dodger fan, he also gave his emotional support to the Green Bay Packers after they signed his high school basketball teammate, Jim Ringo, to their roster.

For the past 60 years, he and his wife have been faithful supporters of Parkland High School athletics, attending most football and basketball games into their late 80s.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Robert J. Steckel Sr. and his wife, Donna, of North Whitehall Township, and David B. Steckel and his wife, Claudia, of Allentown; daughter Christine M. Decker of Allentown; sister Barbara M. Etheridge of Phillipsburg; brother James Steckel of The Villages, Fla.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be private, at the convenience of the family.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Smile Foundation at operationsmile.org.

Arrangements made by Trexler Funeral Home, Allentown.