Karl Steuk Obituary

Karl W. Steuk

Nov 10, 1940 - Feb 21, 2026

Middle Bass, OH

Karl William Steuk took his final flight into the sunset with Jesus 21 February 2026, from his winter home in Surprise, Arizona. He was a loving husband to Patricia Addy Steuk and a father to son, Jeffery K. (Paulette) Steuk, and to deceased daughter, Katherine (Jeff) Sprungl. He is survived by grandchildren, Diana Youngerman, Alixandra (David) Ballard, Kimberly Sprungl, Sandra Steuk, Jessica (Jon) Vail, and Timothy (Rachel) Steuk; and five great-grandchildren, Aiden Cross, Parker and Rowan Steuk, Ian Ballard, and Julianna Vail. Also surviving is brother, Richard (Alaine) Steuk.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl Edward and Ruth Pietschman Steuk.

Karl grew up on the family fruit farm in Venice, Ohio. He started his spiritual walk at Trinity Lutheran Church in Venice. He continued as a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church, North Olmsted, Ohio, where he served on the board in several roles, including as president, and assisted Pastor Potts during each Sunday Service that year. He was a member of the Northern Ohio Christian Conference, leading worship during their summer 5-day conferences at Oberlin College in Finey Chapel, Oberlin, Ohio. He took the Sunday School Services at Middle Bass Island and formed The Church of Middle Bass, leading those services each Sunday from May to October each summer for 57 years. He was an accomplished pianist, first being taught classical music by Great Uncle Edward Steuk. He was bored by classical music, went on to play popular music and relearned to read and play church hymns during the services on the island. He was a member of the choir at Church on the Green, Sun City West, Arizona, where he was part of special programs during the winters in Arizona.

He graduated from Margaretta High School in 1958 and continued meeting with fellow graduates each summer for a luncheon.

His flying career started at Sandusky Airport in the summer of 1959. He continued flying for Harry and Sue Griffing after they bought the airport. He left there to fly charter up and down the east coast for over a year before he was hired to join the Standard Oil flight crew in 1966. When British Petroleum purchased the Standard Oil Company he stayed with the company until he retired in 1998 completing 32 years with the oil companies. He retired as the assistant chief pilot of international operations and flew around the world. During his years with BP, he was a member of National Business Aircraft Association, serving as the chairman of the International Operators Committee, preparing yearly conferences. After retiring he continued flying his Piper Cherokee N814M as his transportation to his home on Middle Bass Island and to his home in Surprise, AZ each year. He served on the Put-In-Bay Port Authority for several years, helping to get a new paved runway on Middle Bass and completed his service collecting parking fees at the airport. He was a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

He was a member of the Middle Bass Island Yacht Club where he served on the board as trustee and was the club Chaplin. He was also a member of the Senior Men's Club on Middle Bass.

Celebrations of Life will be at Church on the Green, Sun City West, 18 March 2026 at 10:30 a.m. and on Middle Bass, Ohio, 13 June 2026 at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Samaritan's Purse.