Stephen Underhill

God sent His angels to Apostolic Christian Restmor Home in Morton, Illinois on Sunday, March 1, 2015 at 12:00pm to quietly usher Stephen Albert Underhill into his eternal home. Stephen was born on October 22, 1932 in Peoria, Illinois to Winston Etter and Velma (Platte) Underhill. He married Ruth Hunziker Underhill on April 4, 1953 in Washington, Illinois. She survives along with one son, Todd Winston (Andrea) Underhill of Grand Rapids, Michigan and one daughter, Vickee Lynn (Bruce) Widbin of Wever, Iowa. Also surviving are seven grandchildren: Christi (Ean) Burghoffer and Alissa (Sebastian) Seifert of Burlington, Iowa, Timothy (TJ) Widbin (and fiancée Melissa) of Wever, Iowa, Jeremy (Andrea) Widbin of Winona Lake, Indiana, BriEllyn (Chris) Zauner of Eugene, Oregon, and Elise and McKenzie Underhill of Greenville, Michigan. He is also survived by nine Great grandchildren: Brendon Hale, Mason and Hudson Burghoffer, Lucas, Nicolas and Annalisa Seifert of Burlington, Iowa, Adelyn, Kendyl (and in two weeks) Brynnlee Zauner of Eugene, Orgeon, and Alaythia Widbin of Winona Lake, Indiana. Also surviving is one sister, Joan (Jim) Ogden of Peoria, and one brother, Harry W. (Nancy) Underhill of Centreville, Virginia. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sons, Gregory Stephen in 1954 and Craig Arthur in 1962.

Stephen was a charter member of Fellowship Bible Church (formerly Grace Bible Church) in Peoria, where he previously served as Head Usher and Chairman of the Board. He also taught Junior High Sunday School for several years. He was a member of the Fellowship Bible Senior Saints Sunday School Class. He enjoyed playing tenor saxophone all of his life and was a member of the Church Orchestra. In his teens he was also a Youth Counselor at Winona Lake Bible Camp in Winona Lake, Indiana. He graduated from Manual High School with the class of 1950. He was a member of the Peoria Bricklayers #6, retiring in 1991 where he was last employed as an Estimator for Clifford Kaufman & Sons Masonry in Morton. He served the 685th Company of the Transportation Division of the United States Army Reserves as Sergeant 1st Class for 9 years. He was honorably discharged from the military in November of 1959. His final request while still able to speak was "Make sure all the children are in."

Services will be held on Friday, March 6 at 10:30am at Fellowship Bible Church, 4006 N. Sterling Road in Peoria, with Steve Stocksiek officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 5 from 5:00-7:00pm at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel, 2021 N. University St, as well as Friday at the church for one hour before the service. Interment will be at Swan Lake Memorial Gardens in Peoria, with full military rites accorded. Memorials may be made to Fellowship Bible Church, 4006 N. Sterling Ave., Peoria IL 61615.