Richard Wayne Steckelberg

Richard Wayne Steckelberg, age 92, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully at his home on March 21, 2026. Wayne was born on February 28, 1934 to Meinhardt Ludwig Von Carl Steckelberg and Elsie Krogh Steckelberg on the family farm in Manilla, Iowa. Wayne graduated from Manilla High School in May, 1952 and went on to college and dental school at the University of Iowa before changing his career path toward Veterinary Medicine. He graduated from Iowa State University with his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine in 1958.
Wayne married Shirley Small of Ames, Iowa in 1954 and three children were born of their union. In 1958, Wayne and Shirley established their home in Kansas City, Missouri, where Wayne launched many successful veterinary practices. Over his nearly 60-year veterinary career, Wayne directed 15 practices in Kansas City and Honolulu, Hawaii.

Wayne was widely regarded as a skilled and compassionate veterinary physician. He also was an innovative businessman and was ahead of his time in his strategy of consolidating multiple veterinary practices under one corporate umbrella bringing efficiencies and economies to the delivery of services. While his veterinary skills were exceptional, Wayne was never limited by the moniker of veterinarian and his creativity and innovative nature fueled his pursuit of many business opportunities over the years. He owned and operated restaurants and bars in Hawaii and Kansas City, developed business properties in Hawaii and pursued diverse ventures in the fields of recreation and home services. He worked hard to make his own success.
Apart from his professional career, Wayne’s avocations were wide-ranging and adventurous. He became a pilot and owned several planes that took his family on vacations to Texas, Florida, Colorado and Iowa. He was a natural athlete and excelled in basketball, golf and bowling. In mid-life, he became a marathon runner and completed several marathons well into his 50s. He enjoyed boating on his pontoon boat on Lake Waukomis, his speedboat at the Lake of the Ozarks or Table Rock Lake, and his sailboat off the coast of Honolulu. He grew to appreciate art and had alliances with Margaret Keane (who famously produced a painting of Wayne surrounded by his small animal patients which hangs in the Iowa State Veterinary School) or Salvador Dali Enterprises (for the production of medallions featuring Dali’s Four Seasons). He enjoyed Alaskan fishing trips with his son, son-in-law and grandson, scuba-diving with his youngest daughter and cheering on the Chiefs with his oldest daughter.

He imparted to his children and other family and friends his belief that life was all about one’s attitude. Wayne was an optimist – seeing the possibilities where others did not and confident in his ability to take situations or businesses and improve upon them. His goal was to live life to its fullest – regardless of temporary setbacks or obstacles. This Iowa farm boy saw beyond the horizon of corn fields on the family farm – and in doing so, was rewarded with a life rich of experience and adventure.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, Meinhardt and Elsie Steckelberg, his sister Ione James and brothers-in-law Robert James and George James. He is survived by his sister Lois James, brother-in-law Dean (Paula) Small; children Julie (Robert) Pietroburgo, Daniel Steckelberg and Carol Steckelberg; grandchildren Daniel (Andrea) Pietroburgo, Kate (Charlie) Effinger, Lauren Steckelberg; great-grandchildren Luke Pietroburgo, Elle Pietroburgo, Mia Pietroburgo, James Effinger, Josephine Effinger, Teddy Effinger; his special friend, Vee Osborne; his beloved dog, Happy; and many nieces and nephews.

Private, family services are pending with planned interment in the Manilla, Iowa Cemetery. Memorials in Wayne’s honor may be directed to the Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine,1800 Christensen Drive, Ames, Iowa 50011-1134.