Isidore "Issy" Stecklein, 90, died Friday, January 1, 2010 at the Hays Medical Center in Hays.

He was born January 27, 1919 in Munjor, Kansas to Jacob and Clara (Leiker) Stecklein. He attended elementary school in Munjor, and St. Joseph Military Academy in Hays. He continued his education at Fort Hays State University and received his bachelor's degree in Business in 1940.

He married Stella von Lintel on June 11, 1940 in Victoria, Kansas. She died October 28, 1996. They lived in Topeka for one year while he attended Washburn University, and then returned to Hays to farm south of Toulon, which he continued to do until his retirement around 1990.

During his lifetime he enjoyed playing saxophone and piano for the Nick Klaus Band and Beilman Brothers Band in the 1940's and 50's, and flying his airplane. He also enjoyed bowling, playing cards and attending many of the football, basketball and baseball games in the area when he could. Watching sports on television was his favorite pastime in his later years. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church.

Survivors include one son, Daniel Stecklein of Topeka, KS, and two daughters, Linda Sander of Garden City, KS and Cheryl Eden of Longmont, CO, seven grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Stella, his brother Mike, and one granddaughter, Michelle.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2010 at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 until 7:00 on Sunday and from 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 on Monday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 20th and Pine. A parish vigil service will be at 6:00 followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary at 6:30 on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, in care of the funeral home.