Stephen Errol Buck, 77, Galesburg, died at 10:43 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at home.
He was born Aug. 12, 1943, in Galesburg, the son of Glenn and Leona (Diehl) Buck. He married Sandra K. McGarry in 1962 in Galesburg. They divorced. He married Louisa F. Barash on Nov. 17, 1973, in Galesburg. She preceded him in death on Nov. 7, 2017.
Surviving are three children, Scott (Gayle Wald) Barash, Washington, D.C., Robert (Susan) Buck of East Galesburg and Brandelyn Buck, Galesburg; six grandchildren, Melissa (Jake) Scott, Bettendorf, Iowa, Amanda Buck, East Galesburg, Molly Buck, Galesburg, Zachary Barash, Washington, D.C., Miranda (Jesse) Hines, Abingdon, and Jordan Perry, Galesburg; two great-grandsons; a sister, Betty Jo Turner, Rock Island; a nephew, Patrick (Patty) Turner, Rock Island; a niece, Shannon (Boyd) Bringolf, Athens; and six great-nieces and great-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and a nephew, Dana Turner.
Steve attended Valley High School and graduated from Galesburg High School in 1961. He attended Brown’s Business College in downtown Galesburg to learn office skills. He worked as a taxi driver and delivered pizzas for Pizza House after starting his career at the Gale Products Division of Outboard Marine Corp. in Galesburg, where he spent 22 years in the office until the company left town in 1983. He later went to work for the Knox County Clerk’s office, serving as deputy clerk for two clerks before being appointed Knox County Clerk to finish out a term.
While he had many interests, his lifelong passion was motorcycles. His love for life on two wheels began when his father took him to the motorcycle races in Springfield as a reward for earning the first-place rating in accordion at the state music contest in 1957. He began riding a “doodlebug” his dad built for him and graduated to motorcycles when he was 14. He loved riding and tinkering on his Harley-Davidsons and BMWs. Through his riding time, he owned BSA, Norton, and Honda motorcycles as well. He once restored a 1950s BMW and made many friends at the BMW rallies he and Louisa attended. Twice he ran for public office — Knox County treasurer and Knox County clerk. He was active in the Knox County Democrats for many years and maintained a lifelong interest in politics and government.
Steve was a Civil War history buff and visited many battlefields and historic sites with Louisa. Like his father before him, he enjoyed tinkering and puttering in the garage, cobbling together everyday fixes and modifications to things that weren’t designed quite to his liking. Mechanical devices fascinated him. He enjoyed photography and made thousands of photos, meticulously cataloged, from vacations to family to local scenes and events. For a time he had a portrait business, Photography by Buck. He cherished family, especially his grandchildren.
Special appreciation goes out to his care team from Caring Senior Service and Harbor Light Hospice.
Visitation will be 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday in Watson-Thomas Funeral Home, due to restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 Pandemic, social distancing, face masks, and limited occupancy will be observed, with graveside service at 1:30 in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to FISH of Galesburg food pantry, Habitat for Humanity, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
