Steve "Bubba" Buckley

Steven (Bubba) Buckley, 54, of Mankato passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 7th at his home.

He was born on June 5th, 1961 to Jim and Helen (Hare) Buckley in Mankato, MN. He graduated from Mankato East High School in 1980. For the past twenty years Bubba was employed at Kato Cab where he thoroughly enjoyed meeting people. He had the gift of greeting people no matter their walk in life, visiting with strangers, making everyone he met feel at ease while riding with him in his taxi. 

Steve loved.

Steve loved his friends, his family. He was a faithful friend, a faithful brother and a devoted son. Steve was always there to help in whatever way he could. Steve was known for his kind and caring heart, his generous spirit. Steve was not a consumer. He had the uncanny ability to be your friend without consuming you. One of his favorite things was his chair. It was old and beat up, in fact, he even had a new chair that was given to him but he said his old chair still had some “good sittin” left in it. He considered his taxi job as a ministry. He always took the late shift and gave people rides home after their “night out”, getting them home safely. He said the tips weren’t good but that didn’t matter. Steve (Bubba) wasn’t enamored with money. He always wore a dangly cross earring that he used to create conversation, conversation about living a better life, Bubba was enamored by people. He lived life coloring outside the lines. He was not impressed by title, or wealth. What impressed Steve was a loving, encouraging heart, and a willingness to serve. If you knew Steve, you knew this. If you didn’t, read the Gospels and you will. 

Bubba enjoyed playing poker with his buddies, it wasn’t the game, it was spending time with his friends. Bubba loved spending time with his family, never missing going to Hy-Vee for the weekly family lunch get together. Bubba loved working at the Pow Wow, he understood the importance of it. Bubba loved taking walks and watching nature, this is where he saw God.
 
Steve is survived by his father, Jim Buckley and step-mother Bea; sisters, Chrisanne (Jeffrey) Oney of Owatonna and Laurie (Roger) Button of Washougal, WA;  brother, Jim (Sandy) Buckley Jr. of North Mankato; and nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Steve was met at Heaven's gates by his mother, Helen and his grandparents.

Visitation and Memorial Service will be held at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. Visitation will be held Monday, March 14 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and the Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 15 with visitation one hour before the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The Salvation Army.

Steve was a wonderful person who will be missed by many people!