William ‘Bill’ Stucki
William Francis “Bill” Stucki was born Dec. 16, 1935, at home on the family farm northeast of Loyal to Henry and Ruth (Howlett) Stucki.
He passed away Feb. 16, 2024, at his home west of Kingfi sher surrounded by loved ones. Bill went to school at Loyal graduating from Loyal High School in 1953. He was active in FFA, ag mechanics and showed Angus cattle. He loved FFA and earned his State Farmer Degree.
After high school, he went to work as a lineman for REA.
He enlisted in the United States Army National Guard and was a member of the 45th Infantry Division and then served in the United States Air Force and was discharged in 1964.
He moved to Enid where he worked for the Howell Tire Company.
He later became a patrolman for the Enid Police Department.
During his time there, he met and married Jeanne Welch on Dec. 10, 1960.
He continued as a patrolman until 1965 when his oilfield career began with Champlin Petroleum Co.
Bill started as a roustabout and worked his way up to drilling superintendent over western Oklahoma.
He worked in all aspects of the oilfield.
Bill moved his family back to Loyal in 1972. He owned Bill Stucki, Inc., and pumped for various oil companies.
He was a custodian and bus driver for Lomega schools and drove the activity bus for several years for the Lomega High School basketball teams, for which both his children played.
Bill retired from the oilfi eld from John Thompson Enterprises of Watonga at the age of 77.
He loved the mountains and Red River, N.M. traveling there often with his family.
Eventually, he purchased a home in Red River where he was a member of the Red River Round-Up Club and worked for the town.
Bill was a lifelong fan of Oklahoma Sooners football, NASCAR and country music, especially George Strait.
Some of his favorite foods were pineapple pie and macaroni with tomatoes.
Bill will be remembered for his hard-working attitude and his ability to never forget a face or name.
He always made sure everyone was taken care of before himself.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Jeanne and his sister-in-law Barbara Welch of the home; his children, Tammy (Bob) Edsall of Loyal and Billy (Donna K.) Stucki of Kingfisher.
He is survived by grandchildren Justin (Sarah) Edsall of Omega, Brooke (Cole) Graddy of Wichita, Kan., Taylor Stucki and Seth Gleichman of Okarche, Caitlyn (Dalton) Cramer of Ames, and Madison (Blake) Owen of Kingfisher; great-grandchildren Harper and Hope Edsall, Baker, Lennan and baby girl Graddy due in March and baby Owen due in July; brother-in-Law, Randy (Lisa) Welch of Iowa Park, Texas, and Kandi (Randy) Powell of Elk City and several nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by several grandchildren and great-grandchildren he was blessed with through his children’s marriages.
He leaves behind numerous family and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Ruth Stucki, his in-laws Lonnie and Glenna Welch, his sister Mary Ann Curtis, and niece, Sheila Curtis.
Bill devoted his life to caring and providing for those he loved.
He will be dearly missed. Donations may be made in his name to the Lomega FFA or Russell-Murray Hospice. Funeral services for Bill were 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at Sanders Funeral Chapel with interment following at Forest Home Cemetery in Loyal.
Services are under the direction of Sanders Funeral Service.