I remember Dave so well from my time at WIU. He was a very kind and thoughtful young man and an amazing musician, clarinetist. I was so sorry to hear of his loss. Kris and he were such a beautiful couple and so deeply in love that they were just fun to be around. Many times they took some of the edge off of college stress just by witnessing their wonderful attitudes towards life. Kris was also 
a fabulous pianist and I was lucky to have her as an accompanist at my trumpet recital. My deepest condolences to the family!

Dave was an anchor at First Presbyterian Church for so many years, that I still think of him in front of the choir and those beautiful organ pipes whenever I think of the old church.  He was such a part of it for so many years, and I will miss him!

Jeff & Ali, I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad.  My thoughts & prayers are with you and the whole family.

Chris,

  I'm so, so sorry about Dave.  He was one of the kindest, gentlest people I've known.  I wished to be at his funeral, but I was helping with the music at two funerals on the 24th.  I send you and your family my love and offer you any help that you may need.

Sherry Seckler

I went from grade school through high school with Dave ...one funny memory I'd like to share with you.... In grade school, I remember writing "I love Dave Stewart" on the baseboard in my bedroom under my desk.  Boy, did I get in trouble!!!  I remember him as a very nice guy throughout the years. I'm  so sorry for your loss.  Way too young...

Dear Kris and family,
We are so sorry to hear of David's death! Such a patient man he was as our kids' music teacher! We are thinking of you and praying for you all.

I am sorry for your loss! I was one of Mr. Stewart's first students at PHS. He was a great teacher! My prayers are with your family...

I am so sorry to hear about Dave's passing. What a shock for the whole family. My prayers are with you.

Kris, I'm so sorry for your loss. David was a wonderful choir director and such a sweet person. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family.

Kris and family,Our family was sadden to hear of Daves passing.He was a great guy and my mom and Joe thought a lot of him and you too.Our prayers are with you.Cheri and Zack.

Kristin and family, my heart goes out to all of you. I didn't have the pleasure of knowing David, but he truly sounds like an amazing man! I'm terribly sorry for your loss, but pray you will find comfort and peace in knowing that David is now in the presence of our Abba God! May God watch over you all during this trying time. God bless and much love!

We are paying and thinking of you during this difficult time. He was always smiling and had such a positive outlook.  Hold that family close

I am saddened to hear of Dave's passing. We taught for many years together at Princeville High. I will miss his wry sense of humor. The musical talents of my four children blossomed under his tutorage. Our prayers are with your family.

My thoughts and prayers will be with your family during this sad time.  Dave was one of the finest, dearest, and most talented people I have ever known.  I am thankful and honored to have called him my band director, clarinet teacher, colleague, and friend over the years.  He was a wonderful example for me, and many others and will be missed.  May God bless and comfort all of you.  With deepest sympathy and respect, Tammy Arvin

Dave was such a wonderful friend. We will miss him, but we know he is now healed and in God's presence. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Kristen, and your precious family. May you be blessed with special memories.

Thoughts and prayers are with your family and all who loved Mr. Stewart from the Gillick family.

So sorry for your loss.  Mr. Stewart was my band instructor from grades 5 -8 in Washington, IL.

Dear Kirsten,
I am saddened to hear of Dave's passing. We taught many years together at Princeville. My four children learned from a talented and dedicated teacher. Our prayers are with you and your family.

My condolences to the Stewart family!  David was a big part of my life at District 50 as he taught me both trumpet and drums.  I dodged many a baton being tossed in my direction and still have a box of medals from the musical contests that he lead us to win!  Even at age 47, I still play the drums every week!  Sorry for your loss, but be proud to know the thousands of lives he was a positive influence during his life!

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have touched countless lives with their teaching, musical talent, and the way that they cared for the students and others that they met. Words cannot convey the sadness of Dave's passing. But he will be greatly remembered by all of those who knew him. Every time a former student or colleague plays an instrument or sings a song, it will be as Dan Fogelberg wrote: 

"The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old
But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man
I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band."

Without you Dave, we wouldn't be where we are today! I hope to hear you singing and playing with the angels!

Kristin and family, please accept our condolences. We are grateful to Dave for teaching music to three of our children.  We were very happy band parents during their grade school and high school years.  We always enjoyed seeing Dave playing for the Peoria Muni Band and Prairie Wind ensemble.

Kris & Family, 
Forever thankful for the memories with you both while I was growing up, especially getting to know you both so much more this summer. I will keep those memories near to my heart. Thinking of you and praying for you! 

Cassie Kirk & Family

Like many others I was fortunate enough to have been a student of Mr. Stewart from 5th through 8th grade while at District 50. He taught with passion, demanded perfection and gave so much more in return and because of that many young people were given the gift of music that has carried throughout our lives. Today I pray for peace and comfort in God's loving arms for you Mrs. Stewart and your family

Dear Kristin and family:

We are very sorry about the David's death.  Please accept our condolences.  

I got to know David when we began playing tennis together during the summers.  He was a fine person and fun to be around.  

We pray that you will be healed and comforted.

Love and best regards,

Bill Passie

Chris, I think you probably will remember me, but I wanted to extend my deepest condolences to you and your family. I am so sorry for your loss.
 (Garrett and Tyler Long's mom)

Me .Stewart was indeed a rare talent.  The ways he chose to share his talent show what a caring and generous man he was.  He taught me trombone at Beverly Manor and instilled in me the hard work and practice required to play an instrument.  He expected hard work but loved to have fun.  Most of all he was caring and supportive, translating his love of music and performance to a language a child could appreciate and understand.  His music will live on through the lives he touched.  The world wil have a little less color in it without him.  Our prayers and blessing on your family and may God grant you peace.

Thank you Mr Stewart for the great memories and experiences from being my band teacher. I am 46 yrs old but remember starting the flute in 5th grade like it was yesterday! My condolences to the Stewart family and friends.

Kris and family.  I am so sorry to hear about your recent loss.  My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.

Kris and family,
My deepest condolences on Dave's passing. Have seen him several times over the years at IMEA All State. Always had great chats reminiscing about our WIU days. He will be missed by all. Again, deepest sympathies.

I was very sorry to learn of Mr Stewart's passing. He taught me how to play trombone from 1981-1985 - his years at Beverly Manor. My love of playing music was inspired by his obvious passion for teaching and helping his students master their ability. But despite his reputation during those years for perfectionism and intensity, those of us who stuck with all his various bands during 5th through 8th grade also saw his humor and joy in teaching. In all my years, I'll never forgot him stepping up to the podium and with a straight face, holding up an extended, portable TV antenna to lead us through morning practice! 

My respects and condolences to his family, friends, and students.

Dan Beckler

Kris, so very sorry to hear of Dave's passing.  I will always remember his friendly smile and kind ways.  May the Lord hug you and your family very tight at this time and just know he will always be remembered as a wonderful man.   

Our deepest sympathy, Carl, Brenda, & Beth Theobld

Kris - We are thinking of you and praying for you and your family!
We have many special memories of Dave teaching our girls!
Harold and Karen Steiner

I am so sorry to hear of Mr. Stewart's passing!  Mr.  Stewart was my band teacher at Beverly Manor.  He was passionate about music and was always supportive and encouraging!   Praying your family finds peace during this sad time.

Mr.Stewart taught me how to play clarinet at Beverly Manor many years ago. He was a wonderful teacher and I have so many great memories of my time in band. I am so thankful for the time he spent teaching me. I thought of him just Monday as I attended my son's first  band concert. You have my deepest sympathies.

Dear Kris and family, you are in our thoughts and prayers so much. Our hearts ache for you. We are in Tennessee at Yvonne's so will not be able to attend the service. Please know we are with you in spirit. Our Love

So sorry for your loss.  My daughter had him in music and went on the bus trip to Mall of America.  He was a good teacher and knew his music well.

Mr. Stewart was my kinder-garden and first grade music teacher. I had the joy and privileged of seeing him later in life as a young adult myself as we attended and were members of the same church. He was a man and a man of God. He will be missed and looked up to as a respectable servant of Christ and the community.

My thoughts and prayers are with Kris and your family. I will remember all the good times he helped me out with my clarinet at princeville.  He will be missed.

I am so sorry for Dave's passing. He was a great friend for many years. He had a compassionate, spiritual, and humorous view of life. And he had such great love of music! - particularly expressed through his teaching and clarinet playing. He will be missed by his loving family and friends.

I was so sorry to hear about your loss. I have always enjoyed working with Dave and will miss him a lot. I always appreciated how he gave me jobs accompanying at Beverly Manor, and enjoyed his directing us in St. Martin's chamber players and Muni Band. He was a great musician, and a very kind soul. We will all miss him.

I am sorry to hear of Dave's passing.  He selflessly shared his talents with countless people throughout his life. I knew him and will miss him. My thoughts and prayers to his family during this difficult time.  May he rest in peace.

Dear Doug, Cyndi & families,
My sincerest sympathies. May Dave's music play in your hearts forever.

Deepest condolences to Kris and their family.  Dave was a wonderful educator, musician, and advocate for music education.  He contributed greatly to the musical community; both through his playing, and the hundreds of students with which he shared the joys of making music.

So sorry for your loss,Dave will be greatly missed,may he rest in Peace.

I think of Dave, and I smile because of the beautiful way in which he shared the music in his heart and encouraged the rest of us to express the music in our own. Such a wonderful legacy--to have given the gift of music to so many lives, both young and old.

I will always be grateful to Mr. Stewart for teaching me to play the flute and beginning my love for band. I played in grade school and all the way through high school.  My times in band were some of my fondest memories from school and I have an appreciation and love for music because of it.  I pray the Lord bring comfort and peace to his family and friends during this very difficult time.

Blessings!

OBITUARY

David F. Stewart

December 1, 1952 – October 20, 2015

Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home

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