LouAnn Steckel, 61, of West Lafayette, IN, died unexpectedly at home Friday afternoon, June 10, 2016.  She was born August 8, 1954, in Lafayette at Home Hospital, and adopted at 6 days old by the late Charles Dwight and Alice Smith Steckel. She is survived by her wife Lynnette Biviano, her boys, Baron & Toby, and girl, Delilah, as well as her brother Charles Dean Steckel and his family of Grand Junction Colorado, which includes a niece Brooke Steckel Lucas,  nephew Brindon Steckel, along with 2 great nieces, Gwen and Taryn Lucas,  and 3 great nephews, Damion and  Dyer Steckel, and  Zane Lucas, and a multitude of cousins on both sides. LouAnn graduated from West Lafayette High School class of 72, from  Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, South Bend IN  with her RN in 1978 (she always said there’s nothing like a diploma program to get your RN!!!), and Purdue University School of Nursing, West Lafayette, with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1983. Her passion was adolescent psych nursing and for most of her professional career she excelled at that. She practiced at various facilities including Charter, Koala, North Willow
Center, and Medbrook, in Indianapolis.  She later ventured into Long Term Care as a Director of Nursing and finally became a Health Care Facility Administrator.  In spite of becoming an administrator she was always a nurse at heart. She was a lover of sports, especially football and basketball. She played a mean third base in softball and enjoyed playing volleyball as well. She was a thinker, analyzer, planner, researcher, saver, and lover of the written word. She was challenged by her parents to learn everything there was to learn and was well acquainted with the Encyclopedia Britannica!! There was no issue that she couldn’t solve. Her Uncle Joe bought her first computer and she taught herself how to use it. She was never intimidated by anyone or anything. She was a powerful advocate and questioned everything and almost everyone in life. She loved with a depth and breadth of love that few have the privilege to experience. Those of us who were lucky enough to be her friend or family member enjoyed her quick wit and sharp tongue as it was cloaked with a deep and abiding love. If you were her friend or someone she loved, it was for life. She thought that surely love would exist between those who loved her as well. So, over the course of years her family grew not by birth but by the creation of relationships between those she
loved dearly, Carey, Holly, Lisa, and her godchildren, Hannah and Tyler. Together, those people look at the days to come with trepidation as the loss of her is devastating. She was known by many names, LouAnn of course, Momma, Missy, Louie, Aunt Lou, Aunt LouAnn  and Lou….and although the names were different the ever present love of her, and for her was much the same, reflected here, by the person she referred to as her ground wire….”Louie was the most unique individual – loved fiercely, defended courageously and laughed with all her being. Those that knew her were in awe of her intellect and compassion. They also know there won’t be another as she was one of a kind. As you cross the river, rest in peace, for you, of all people, deserve nothing less.” We will be sharing the gifts she has given to each of us in this life, at a Memorial Service this Friday, June 17th at Soller-Baker West Lafayette Chapel, 1184 Sagamore Parkway West.  Rev. John Williams officiating. Visitation will be from 3pm-5pm with the Service at 5pm. In lieu of flowers, PLEASE make donations to the Purdue Veterinary School or a charity of your choice. We will always love you LouAnn Steckel