Stephen (Steve) B. Wassel, 76, passed away peacefully after a valiant struggle with pancreatic cancer. He was born June 16, 1948 to Benedict B. and Marguerite E. (Thompson) Wassel in Terre Haute. The cotton-topped little boy was raised near the small town of Blackhawk. He enjoyed playing and working in the country alongside his brothers Michael (Sue) Wassel and Paul (Linda) Wassel, and younger sister Mary Beth (Rob) Eberwein, all of whom survive him. Steve attended Blackhawk School and later Honey Creek High School. He ran cross country, served on student council, and was salutatorian of his graduating class, though he barely seemed to open a text book. In 1970 he graduated magna cum laude from Indiana State University with a degree in mathematics, and was a member of the mathematics honorary fraternity. He took one of the first computer science courses offered at ISU and went on to enjoy a long career in information technology with FMC Corporation and then Eli Lilly and Company.

Along the way Steve met the love of his life, Joyce Brindley, and they married on April 2, 1977. They raised two fine children, Jim (Annie) and Anne-Marie, and enjoyed their seven lively and wonderful grandchildren, Gianna, Gemma, Bella, Zita, Nathan, Henry, and Owen. As a Dad/Granddad, Steve was gentle, kind, and a wonderful person to talk with. He often put his childrens' and grandchildrens' needs before his own, and he liked to take walks, play games, make meals, and do his "stretches" with the grandchildren. As a married couple of 43 years, Steve and Joyce were great role models of love, service, and sacrifice for both their children and grandchildren.

In their retirement they moved from Indianapolis to Florida to be near Joyce's family, whom Steve affectionately referred to as his Florida family. In Florida they enjoyed family, touring Florida attractions, and Steve played golf and took up pickleball. He also liked playing the card game 'Hearts' but very often he failed the 'blitz' by exactly 1 point. The card players designated this the 'Steve blitz' and began awarding points for the near-miss play. To this day they still use the term!

After his beloved Joyce passed away, Steve felt called back home to Indiana and his Indiana family and friends. Returning to Terre Haute, he joined TREES Inc. (where he received the Green and Growing award for outstanding first-first year TREES members), the Audubon Society, and OLLI, the Osher Living and Learning Institute. Steve also relished mushroom hunting, pickleball, walking in local parks, birdwatching, and visiting his children, grandchildren, and other family members and friends. We will all miss him dearly, but are comforted in knowing he is reunited with his beloved Joyce.

A Celebration of Life is planned for a later date. Donations may be made to the TREES Inc. organization at P.O. Box 3683, Terre Haute, IN 47803, Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, or a charity of the donor's choice. The family wishes to thank his primary care physician Dr. Audreen Singson, oncologist Dr. Girish Kunapareddy, caregivers from Debbie's Girls group, Cobblestone Health Care, and all the other physicians, health care professionals, ministers and social workers who provided so much care and compassion.