Richard Henry Steele

MOHAWK - Richard “Dick” Steele, Sr., age 92, a lifelong resident of Mohawk, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Born March 13th, 1933, he was the son of Leslie E. Steele and Lesa M. Morreall of Mohawk, NY. He graduated from Mohawk Central High School in 1951, where he was an active participant in basketball, football, baseball, track, Hi-Y club, PTA demonstrations, and the yearbook club. Dick was drafted during the Korean War and honorably served overseas in the United States Army. After returning home, he married the love of his life, Florence “Teenie” L. Drury, on July 2nd, 1955. Together, they enjoyed a loving marriage of over 70 years while raising their family intheir cherished hometown of Mohawk, NY.

Dick worked in Purchasing at Mohawk Data Science (MDS) in Herkimer, NY, until his retirement. Additionally, he and his wife were the proud owners of the Mohawk Washing Well from 1986 to 2006, building a family business that they later sold to their son. After retirement, Dick found great joy as a school bus driver for the Mohawk Central and later the Central Valley School Districts, driving his grandchildren’s teams to their games and then staying to watch and cheer them on, a role he treasured well into his 80s.

Dick was steadfast in his involvement in his children’s lives and remained dedicated to his community as a volunteer for various organizations. He was a volunteer firefighter with the Mohawk Volunteer Fire Department until 1974, a member of the Republican Club, and served as a councilman for the Town of German Flatts for many years. Additionally, he was a leader in the Boy Scouts. On sunny days, he could often be seen mowing his lawn and maintaining the grounds of the American Legion Memorial in Mohawk.

Dick had a special place in his heart for Canadarago Lake and cherished his time with his The Perkins Lane family, enjoying card games on the porch and celebrating the Fourth of July.

He is survived by his devoted children: Richard Steele, Jr., and his wife Laurie (Cloutier) of Ilion, NY; Leslie Steele-Eddy and her husband Mark of Ilion, NY; Katherine Thuener of Mohawk, NY; Lesa Steele and her partner, William Olson of Ilion, NY; Christine Smalls and her husband Bandish of Ilion, NY; and Andrew Steele and his wife, Karen (Getman) of Mohawk, NY. He was also a father figure to his nephews, Terry, Tim, and Tom Steele of Cooperstown, NY. Dick is also survived by 15 grandchildren: Richard Steele III and his wife, Kelly; Michael Steeleand his wife Alyssa; Keri Knight and her husband Robert; Jessica Thuener and her fiancé Kyle Elthorp; Matt Kenyon Jr., Katharine Sterling and her husband Richard, Maximus Kenyon and his wife Brianna; Gretchen Watkins; Rachel Opels and her husband Nick; Christopher Smalls; Brandin Smalls; Kiara Smalls; Brayden Smalls; Cody Brown; Emily Steele; Kristina Lindberg; Austin Lindberg; Adalyn Steele, as well as 10 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, Richard was preceded in death by his beloved sister Charlotte Siver and brothers James and Robert.

In place of flowers, consider donations to Mohawk Valley Nurse Honor Guard, 1354 Elizabethtown Road, Ilion, NY, or Hospice and Palliative Care, 4277 Middle Settlement Road, New Hartford, NY 13413 https://hospicecareinc.org/donate-online/.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, at 12:00 NOON, at The Enea & Ciaccia Family Funeral Home, 4309 Acme Road in Ilion, New York, beginning with military honors offered by the United States Army, then services to be led by Rev. Brian Engle. Interment will take place in the Spring, 2026 at Mohawk Cemetery Annex. 

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours at the funeral home on Acme Road on Saturday morning, January 3rd, from 10:00AM until 12:00 Noon and then attend the services to follow. 

Dick's obituary may be viewed online by visiting www.eneafamily.com on the Internet. 

Enea, Ciaccia, & Applegate Funeral Directors (315) 894-8000.