SPRINGFIELD – Richard Willard Steljes, 72, formerly of Wenona, Ill., passed away Monday, Aug. 18, 2014, at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield.
Rich was born May 29, 1942, in Chicago, Ill., the son of Herman M. and Eleanor Opheim Steljes. He married Alice L. Hines on Aug. 9, 1969, at Christ Lutheran Church in Normal, Ill.
Rich retired from teaching at Woodland High School in Streator, Ill. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn, Ill. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Springfield South and had served as president and multi-term secretary of the Wenona Rotary Club. Rich was a Paul Harris Fellow, and an Eagle Scout.
Rich is survived by his wife, Alice, of Springfield; two sons, Clarke W. (wife, Ruth) Earley, of North Canton, Ohio, and Paul C. (wife, Becky) Earley, of Pawnee; six grandchildren, Daniel, Bethany, Jordan, Dylan and Glorianne Earley and Michael (wife, Jaime) Heffer-DeWitt; and three great-grandchildren, Jack, Sam and Ellie Heffer-DeWitt.
Rich's family will meet friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, at the Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, Aug. 22, at the Trinity Lutheran Church, 1201 W. Jackson St. in Auburn with the Rev. Martin Kaufmann officiating. Burial will follow at Horse Creek Cemetery in Pawnee.
Memorial contributions honoring Rich may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church, 1201 W. Jackson St., Auburn, IL 62615, or to Running Strong for the American Indian, P.O. Box 52144., Phoenix, AZ 85702.
Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee, Ill., is serving the family of Richard Steljes.
Published in The State Journal-Register on Aug. 20, 2014