D. Stephen Buck

Buck, D. Stephen, passed away peacefully at home in Menomonee Falls on September 14, 2025, at the age of 80.

Steve was the loving husband of Carol (neé Goetz), dedicated father to Jon and Alexandra and the best Popa ever to Camilo. He was the beloved son-in-law to Louise Goetz Freeman, brother-in-law to Charles Goetz, David Mansen, Sally Freeman and Eric Spencer, Paul Freeman, and uncle to Charles Goetz and Leah Goetz. Steve was preceded in death by his brother, parents, and aunt.

After graduating from the University of Colorado-Boulder, Steve’s career began as an Emergency Medical Technician for an ambulance service in Northern Illinois, followed by working on staff in Safety Services at the Chicago Chapter of the American Red Cross where he taught various courses in First Aid, Small Craft, and Water Safety. Later Steve and his family moved to Wisconsin where he served as a Loss Control Representative for insurance companies. 

Throughout his professional career, Steve continued to respond to disasters, locally and nationally, as a volunteer. And, as an amateur radio operator, often used his skills and ham technology when responding to major disasters and assisting at marathons.

Steve was generous with his time and talents. He had a volunteer's heart, always offering to help family, friends, community and strangers alike. He was a real-life hero and was awarded a Hero Award by the Wisconsin Region Chapter of the Red Cross for his over 60 years of volunteer service. He led many emergency response communications teams across the region and nationally, where he was deployed for weeks or months at a time in the wake of hurricanes and floods.

He was a much-loved member of his church family at West Granville Presbyterian Church. He served on many committees and helped many efforts throughout the years, helping with everything from technology upgrades to supporting a new member's residency paperwork.

Steve was an avid sailor, happiest cruising all around Lake Michigan with Carol at his side, and any lucky friends and family on board. He tuned in to natural rhythms and appreciated the need to adjust the sails in strong winds, lessons he applied on his boat and in his life.

In recent years, Steve enjoyed traveling with Carol to visit Alexandra and family in Peru and Spain, as well as living out the dreams of taking a sailing trip through the Greek Islands, and another down the Nile in Egypt.

In his final months, Steve was an example of peace and grace. He never lost sight of the best interest of those he loved. He showed us how to live with a giving heart, and how to assume with dignity, the difficulties facing us. In his words, "No drama".

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 18th, from noon to 1:00, followed by a memorial service at 1:00, at West Granville Presbyterian Church (6935 N 107th St, Milwaukee, WI 53224). The service will also be live-streamed for those who cannot attend in person and archived on the West Granville YouTube account: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq94r4FOEOUO3Np0GQttUKw/featured)

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the American Red Cross – Wisconsin Region, 2600 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53233 Attn: Fund Development, noting “Steve Buck, Disaster Services” on the memo line. ...https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/.