Steckelberg’s presence still felt in BP

Someone is missing from the Blooming Prairie football sideline this fall. Assistant coach Karl Steckelberg passed away in April at the age of 44. His presence, however, is still felt.

Head coach Chad Gimbel wrote that it’s hard to know where to start.

“First of all, football doesn’t seem the same. I miss seeing his big, red truck pull up. Karl meant so much to the players, coaches, fans and team. He was beyond generous in so many ways, starting with his time, knowledge, taking football players out for supper and offering help,” said Ginmbel.

“On the football field he was someone the players trusted. They would come and talk to him about football or anything in life. When he greeted the players, he always asked them how their day was and then would go on to a conversation with them that wasn’t football-related at all. The players always knew Karl cared about him,” continued Gimbel.

Gimbel counted on him in many ways.

“I trusted Karl to remember things for me… I would always say, ‘Hey Karl, don’t let me forget this.’ And he wouldn’t. Karl’s going to be missed. He was a great man. I feel so blessed I got to know him, coach with him, call him a great friend, and I am a much better person because of it,” said Gimbel.

A player’s coach

Senior Brady Kittelson said Steckelberg was a player favorite.

“He was kind of our ‘fun’ coach during practice. Like during the morning walk-throughs when all the other coaches were teaching or had to be at the school, he would be one of the only coaches there. He was kind of the one we got to mess around with the most,” said Kittelson.

“Karl was one of the greatest people I ever met. He would do anything for anybody, and drop eveything to help. There were no excuses. He would just get it done. He did a lot of things for the kids in Blooming Prairie, on and off the field,” added assistant coach Matt Kittelson.

He said it hits hard again now with football back.

“Because that was when we spent the majority of our time with Karl. It’s hard to lose a friend. We also want to go out there and honor him the best we can,” said Kittelson.

Kittelson suggested the team wear Dairyland Seed hats to honor Steckelberg. The team held a moment of silence in Saturday's home opener. Tara Gimbel designed a memorial decal for the Awesome Blossoms helmets.

Wrestling too

Steckelberg also coached Westfield wrestling.

“Karl was one of the best people you could possibly have in your life. He always had a positive attitude and provided a great support system for all our athletes and coaches. He was someone that you could always count on no matter the day or time. He is missed greatly,” said Westfield co-head coach David Lassahn.

“I will continue to honor him by living life to the fullest, always offering a helping hand, and giving my best effort in all that I do,” Lassahn continued.

Steckelberg – a 1997 Owatonna grad – and his wife Tricia have two children, Alexis and Grady. They spoke with The Steele County Times in the Aug. 21 edition about their first county fair without their father.