John K. Stonecipher Obituary (1920 - 2009)

ODELL - John Kilby Stonecipher, 88, Odell, died at 12:45 a.m. Thursday (Jan. 1, 2009) at St. Mary's Hospital, Streator. His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Duffy Funeral Home, Odell, with Pastor Dieter Punt officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Odell. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. He was born Feb. 21, 1920, in Iuka, son of Waverly and Alta White Stonecipher. He married Mary Lois Hare in 1943. She preceded him in death. He later married Loyce Stadler in Pontiac on Sept. 22, 1995, at First Lutheran Church, Pontiac. She survives in Odell. Also surviving are daughter, Rita (John) Collura, East Longmeadow, Mass.; stepsons, David Tammen, Lexington, S.C.; Duane (Diane) Tammen, Leesville, S.C.; and Dale (Gina) Tammen, Mansfield; three stepgrandchildren, Theresa and Michael Collura and Melissa (Paul) Gensic; two nephews; and four nieces. He was preceded by his parents; first wife; brothers, Monroe and Waverly Stonecipher Jr.; and sisters, Zelma Gernentz and Ruth Wolf. He was a member of First Lutheran Church, Pontiac. He was very active in his community. John was an Odell volunteer fireman from 1947 to 1964 and he drove a school bus for the Odell School system for 15 years. John was a charter member of the Odell Lions Club from 1956 until the time of his death. He was awarded the high honor of the Melvin Jones award thru Lions Club International for Humanitarian services within his community. He was a member of the Odell American Legion Post 666 since 1945. He held many offices with the American Legion, including post commander on the local level and county level. John was co-founder of the Veterans Assistance Commission in Pontiac and also co-founder and designer of the WWII Memorial located on the Livingston County Courthouse square. He was a lifetime member of the 40 and 8. He was a graduate of Odell High School. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Marines from August 1943 to July 1946. He was owner/operator of Stoney's Service Station on Route 66 in Odell for 41 years. He was a member of the Route 66 Association and was inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in 1992 Memorials may be made to Odell American Legion Post 666; Odell Public Library; First Lutheran Church, Pontiac; or a charity of the donor's choice.