G. Jay Stiehl, 85, of Champaign, IL, formerly Atwood, IL, died at 5:30 PM, Monday, September 25, 2006 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, September 28, 2006 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 66 East US Highway 36, Atwood, IL with Rev. Dr. James F. Wright officiating. Visitation will be 6-8 PM, Wednesday, September 27, 2006 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Mackville Cemetery, Atwood, IL with military graveside rites accorded by the James Reeder American Legion Post #770, Atwood, IL.

Mr. Stiehl was born on June 5, 1921 in South Bend, IN, the son of Otto Julius and Amanda Anna Monke Stiehl. He married Phyllis Jean Bowen on September 29, 1946 in Decatur, IL. She survives.

Other survivors include: 2 Sons: Robert J. Stiehl of Urbana, IL; James B. Stiehl of Milwaukee, WI; 1 Sister: Myra Stiehl Ramers of Swansea, IL; and 5 Grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Jay attended and graduated from the Nokomis Elementary School in 1935 and from the Nokomis Township High School in 1939. He was a 1940 graduate of the Illinois Business College at Springfield, IL and he graduated from the Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Chicago, IL in 1941. He served his apprenticeship with Hallowell and James Funeral Home in La Grange, IL in 1942 and enlisted in the United States Navy in October 1942. He served as pharmacist's mate, first class, on the USS LCI (L) 506, and participated in the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944, delivering troops into Gold Beach on the Normandy coast of France. He was a member of the USS LCI National Association, and was a member of DESA, the Destroyer Escort National Association.

Upon his return to Nokomis, he served in a partnership with his father in the family business: Stiehl Funeral Home, until he moved to Atwood, IL in 1949 and farmed until his retirement in 1984.

Mr. Stiehl joined the Nokomis American Legion Post # 94 in 1946 and transferred to James Reeder American Legion Post #770, Atwood, IL in 1949. He received his 50 year membership with the post in 1999, and was a member of the LCI National Association.

He was a member of the Atwood Lions Club and served as district governor in 1959/1960 and was an honorary ambassador of the organization.

He formerly served as a director on the board of the Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative; he served on the board of the Douglas County Farm Bureau for approximately 20 years, serving as secretary for several years. He was a life member of the Douglas County Museum Association, Tuscola, IL. He was member of the Atwood State Bank Board of Directors for 31 years serving as board President for a number of years.
He was a member of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Champaign, IL.

Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 509 South Mattis Ave. Champaign, IL 61821.

Condolences to the family may be sent to: hilligossshraderfh.com.