Stetzler, Eileen Rose

1928 - 2020  (91 years)

• Name	Stetzler, Eileen Rose
  Birth	19 Dec 1928	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States   [1]
  Gender	Female
  Census	1930	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States   [2]
  Census	1940	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States   [3]
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  Census	26 Apr 1950	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States   [1]
  Education	Brown’s Business School  [4]
  Occupation	bookkeeper for husbands contracting company
  Occupation	Peoria Commercial National Bank  [4]
  Residence	1999	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States
  	Address: 501 Glen Ave
  Residence	2009	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States
  Death	23 Feb 2020	Illinois
  	MORTON — Eileen Rose Knapp, 91, of Morton, passed away peacefully Sunday, February 23, 2020, surrounded by her devoted husband of over 70 years, Bill, and her three loving daughters at her home. Eileen was born December 19, 1928, to Albert and Rosina (Paternoster) Stetzler. She married William J. Knapp on October 9, 1949. They recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Surviving are her husband, Bill of Morton; three daughters, Carol (Bob) Beyer of Pekin, Diane (Mike) Wurmnest of Deer Creek and Vicki Bennett of Morton; seven grandchildren, Lindsay Shawver, Austin (Jessica) Beyer, Chad (Emily) Wurmnest, Kyle (Jamie) Wurmnest, Jenna (Jake) Nicholson, Tyler Bennett, and Parker Bennett; ten great grandchildren, Ciara (Caleb) Mooberry, Colin Beyer, Carter Baldes, Cynthia Beyer, Roman Berry, Jack and Lucy Wurmnest, Garrett and Gavin Wurmnest and Kimber Nicholson; one sister, Helen Zobrist and one sister-in-law, Lois Stetzler. She was preceded in death by three brothers, Manuel, William and Arthur Stetzler; three sisters, Hannah Mooberry, Margaret Pflederer and Caroline Schlachter. Eileen attended Brown’s Business School and worked at the Peoria Commercial National Bank. She was a bookkeeper for their family masonry business. Eileen was also an election judge for Morton Township for many years. She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. Eileen enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge, spades and euchre. She taught her girls how to cook, bake and sew. She made the best homemade pies and stuffed old hens! Eileen and Bill made great memories traveling the countryside in their camper with their family and many bus trips and cruises with their friends. She looked forward to helping count money at the Morton United Methodist Church Bible School. Eileen was a member of the Morton United Methodist Church, where a funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 29, 2020, with Pastors Gary L. Feldman and Gabe Wanck officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, February 28, and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Saturday, both at the church. Burial will be at Apostolic Christian Church Cemetery in Morton. Memorials may be made to Morton United Methodist Church, St. Jude Runners’ Association or Shriners Hospital for Children - Chicago.
  Person ID	I1554	Genealogy | Stetzler Family
  Last Modified	21 Feb 2023

  
  

  Father	Stetzler, Albert Henry,   b. 27 Oct 1884, Baden, Germany d. 17 Jun 1946, Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States (Age 61 years)
  Mother	Paternoster, Rosina,   b. 20 Mar 1887, Howick, Huron, Ontario, Canada d. 1 Aug 1978, Tazewell, Illinois, United States (Age 91 years)
  Marriage	22 Mar 1910	Livingston, Illinois   [5, 6, 7]
  		Albert and Rosina Stetzler Wedding Certificate
  Residence	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States
  	Address: 206 E Jefferson
  		Albert and Rosina Stetzlers Second House 206 W Jefferson
  Residence	From Oct 1917 to 1956	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States
  	Address: 218 N Third St
  	Nestled in a quiet neighborhood in Morton sits one of the city's oldest homes. Built in 1917, the two-story brick bungalow at 218 N. Third Street has been branded a historic home in Morton. Though it may not be the oldest in the neighborhood, there is something unique about this residence that sets it apart from the rest. After a century, the home is on only its second owner, and has remained in the family for which it was built. Albert Stetzler, builder and original owner, moved into the home with his wife Rosina and three children (a son and two daughters) in the fall of 1917. His fourth child, William, was born in the house just six weeks later. Four more children, another boy and three girls, followed over the next 11 years. All of them were born in an upstairs bedroom. The youngest three including Caroline, Helen and Eileen, are the last remaining children of Albert and Rosina Stetzler. On a beautiful August afternoon, the ladies sat in frontof the home where they spent their childhoods and enjoyed reminiscing about -he house and their family's history. "Dad had his dream," Eileen said. "He came over from Germany, Mom said he had only a couple dollars in his pocket." Albert Stetzler was born in Germany in October 1884. He immigrated to the United States in January 1905 at the age of 20. His Aunt Sophie and Uncle Fred Elsasser sponsored Albert's move to the states, and he lived with them in Morton until his marriage to Rosina in 1910. Albert was a carpenter by trade, and eventually owned his own business building homes and businesses in the Morton and Peoria area for years, some of which can be found on Grandview Drive and Moss Avenue in Peoria. When Albert's three sons turned 16, they joined him in the family business. The company, A. Stetzler and Sons, thrived until World War II began. Albert retired, and the construction business came to a halt when his three sons left to serve their country. Business picked up again in late 1945 when the boys came back from the war. Albert passed away in 1946 at the age of 61. In 1978, the brothers changed the name to "Stetzler Builders". Their construction business remained in operation until they sold it to Zeller Electric in the late 1980's. The four-bedroom house on Third Street seemed to always be a hub of activity, and a place where the Stetzler sisters harbor fond memories of family dinners, their mother's fabulous cooking, swinging on the porch swing and sleeping on the front porch on hot summer evenings. There were also some surprises over the years. All the children were spaced two years apart. That pattern was broken when Eileen came along. "She came on as a little surprise," Helen snickered. "Eileen is four years younger than I. In that four years' time, my family kept telling me that was the baby of the family. (My brother) Willie kept saying to me, 'what if; just what if (you aren't the baby)?' Mom assured me I was gonna be the baby of the family. Then one morning (sisters) Margaret and Hannah took me in Mom's room and said, 'I want to show you something'." Helen pointed to Eileen and continued, "That one was lying in bed right next to her!" Helen remembered with a laugh, "I wouldn't go back in that room for another two weeks, because I didn't wnat to look at her!" That's a story that Eileen claimed she heard for the first time just a few years ago. "But we became good friends," she said of her sister. Even after all eight children were grown and married, a few of them had a turn to move in with their mother for a bit. "Addie and her husband (Arthur Stetzler) moved here when Grandma was by herself; and they had six children, so they filled up the house pretty full, too," said Sandi (Stetzler) Burrier, daughter of William Stetzler. "Addie needed a bigger house, and by that time I had married and we built, so mom was in this house alone," remembered Eileen. "So then Mom said 'well, maybe Addie, Art and I can just trade houses'. So, that's how it happened that it stayed in the family." Addie, now widowed, still lives there today. Other than a few changes made in the kitchen with the addition of more cabinetry, the ladies said the house pretty much looks the same as it did so many years ago, which includes built-in bookcases between the living and dining rooms, and a hardwood staircase just inside the front door. There is a saying that goes, "Home is where your story begins". After 100 years, it doesn't appear as though the Stetzler family home has an end. That's quite airight with the Stetzler children and grandchildren, who would undoubtedly be happy if it carried through more generations. Between its century-old history and the many memories its walls hold, the home is obviously very near and dear to their hearts. "I love the porch, the swing," said Eileen. "I love this house."
  		Albert and Rosina Stetzlers Third House 218 N Third Street
  Photos » Slide Show		Rosina Stetzler and children
  		Albert Stetzler family
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  Family ID	F501	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Knapp, William Jr,   b. 8 Aug 1924, Deer Creek, Illinois d. 22 Dec 2020, Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States (Age 96 years)  [1]
  Marriage	9 Oct 1949	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States
  Residence	Jan 2013	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States   [8]
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living
  Family ID	F562	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2024

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 19 Dec 1928 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Census - 1930 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Census - 1940 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Marriage - 9 Oct 1949 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Census - 26 Apr 1950 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Residence - Address: 501 Glen Ave - 1999 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Residence - 2009 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Residence - Jan 2013 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Death - 23 Feb 2020 - Illinois  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Eileen Rose Stetzler
  		Eileen Rose Stetzler 2
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

  Documents

  William and Eileen Knapp 50th wedding anniversary

  
  

• Sources

  [S3249] Eileen Knapp, "United States 1950 Census". [S578] Ilene R Stetzler in household of Albert Stetzler, "United States Census, 1930". [S564] Eileen Stetzler in household of Albert Stetzler, "United States Census, 1940". [S3062] Eileen Stetzler Obituary. [S724] Albert Stetzler, "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934". [S725] Albert Stetzler, "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934". [S3072] Albert Stetzler, "Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935". [S2621] Chris Knapp obituary.