Joseph "Joe" Howey Buckels, age 88, of Evansville, Indiana, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2024 at the Linda White Hospice House with his family by his side. He was born November 27, 1935, at his grandmother's home in Edwards County, Illinois. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Olney, Illinois where he met and married his high school sweetheart, Nancy June Decker on October 31, 1952. They resided in Olney and Kankakee, then settled in Evansville for his postal job on the railroad.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy, daughters Linda Stuckey, (Robert) Shirley Steiner, Diane Samford (Syd), and Cindy Davis. Grandchildren include Jennifer Walker (TJ), Michael Stuckey (Eric), Kevin Stuckey (Cindy), Daniel Kolenich (Kristin), Joe Davis and Matthew Davis (Janice), ten great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Vera Buckels, three brothers, Darrell, Merle and Ronnie Buckels, son-in-law Tim Steiner, granddaughter Annie (Deig) Sandefur and great grandson, Peyton Davis.

Joe had a long career with the United States Postal services. He started as a Railroad Clerk where he spent many days on trains and sorted mail as they traveled to different cities. When the mail trains stopped running he worked as a Mail Carrier, Clerk, Supervisor, and retired as Postmaster in Poseyville, Indiana on November 30, 1990. During his years with the post office he always had second jobs, working to bring in extra money for the family. He enjoyed working into his 80's part-time, with his last job at Blue Ribbon. During his later years of life, he enjoyed long trips to Gulf Shores with Nancy. He had a lifelong fascination with history and often surprised you with random facts. He and Nancy settled down quietly in Evansville during the covid years (2020-2023). He spent these final years at home happily puttering in the yard, making his daily run to Menards, the grocery, and watching sports and Nascar with Nancy.

To identify what made Joe Buckels unique was his strength and kindness. Mentally, he was a self-actualized man with a quick mind; one who could tell you things would be alright but also show you how you make it so. It was a tough job for his son-in-laws to measure up to "daddy". He talked quietly and kindly to all he met. Everyone mattered and was important to him.

A Life Celebration will be held this summer with his family in Evansville to celebrate his long and well lived life. A.A. Milne said: "How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." And we were truly blessed to have many years of knowing and loving Joe Buckels.

At the end of his life, Joe Buckels received excellent care at the Linda White Hospice House and we want to thank all the staff that so lovingly cared for him. Also, a sincere thank you to Dr. Evanson and his staff at Nephrology Associates who so kindly provided excellent care over the years to him but especially those last few months. Of course we were very saddened by his death but comforted in knowing that Dr. Evanson followed him through this final journey. The sensitivity and support of his fine staff helped us through what was a difficult time and we will never forget their kindness.

The Evansville Courier & Press, Evansville, IN