Garlish, Lois Maurine

1920 - 2024  (103 years)

• Name	Garlish, Lois Maurine
  Birth	5 Aug 1920	Garlish Farm, Fulton, Illinois, United States
  Gender	Female
  Residence	1999	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States
  	Address: 621 S Main St
  Death	23 Apr 2024
  	Lois Maurine (Garlish) Stetzler, 103, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Apostolic Christian Restmor in Morton. She was born on a farm southwest of Farmington, Illinois, to Henry Albert and Ella May (Haflinger) Garlish on August 5, 1920. She married William J. “Bill” Stetzler at the First Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois, on December 25, 1942. She resided at 621 S. Main Street, Morton, IL for 70 years in the home her husband built for their family. He preceded her in death on March 2, 1988. Surviving are her children, Sandi (George) Burrier of Morton, IL., William “Jerry” Stetzler of Ooltewah, TN, Rebecca “Becky” (Charles) Nebes of Frankfort, Ill., and David (Sonja) Stetzler of Charlotte, NC; eight grandchildren, Ranell Burrier (Schneblin) of Morton, IL, Gwendolen (Mike) Kic of Schaumburg, IL, Keri (Kyle) Vesters of Tinley Park, IL, Ill. Andrew (Jennifer) Stetzler of Prospect, KY, Jeffrey (Courtney) Stetzler of Ooltewah, TN, Steven Nebes of New Lenox, IL, and Matthew Stetzler of Belmont, NC, and Michael Stetzler of Durham, NC.; and seven great-grandchildren, Madison Kic of Downers Grove, IL, Mollie Kic of DeKalb, IL, Abbie and Parker Stetzler of Ooltewah, TN, Vivian Stetzler of Prospect, KY and Julia and Lilian Vester of Tinley Park, IL. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; parents, Henry and Ella Garlish, two brothers, Joseph and Elman Garlish; four sisters, Dorothy Melville, Eunice Ginther, Ethel Garlish and Estella Higgs; daughter-in-law, Linda Stetzler; son-in-law, Charles Nebes; and grandson-in-law, Aaron Schneblin. Lois graduated from Peoria’s Methodist School of Nursing in 1941. Before motherhood, she worked in Peoria and near Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, where they lived while Bill served in the Army. When her children were young, she was involved with Cub Scouts and 4-H. Lois volunteered 35 years with the American Red Cross, 50 years with the Home Extension Association, 25 years as an Election Judge, 25 years at the Pekin Genealogy Library as well as some years at Restmor Nursing Home. She was extremely active with the Republican Party and was awarded Tazewell County’s “Volunteer of the Year” in 1995. Lois enjoyed playing bridge, pinochle, dominoes and rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals and watching University of Illinois and Bradley basketball games. She was an avid reader and rode her stationary bicycle daily until the age of 101. She was a member of Morton Methodist Church in Morton, where a celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 6, 2024. Visitation will be held from 10 to 10:45 a.m., prior to the service at the church. Cremation has been accorded and a private family burial will take place at the Apostolic Christian Cemetery in Morton. In lieu of flowers, memorials in her honor may be made to Apostolic Christian Restmor, Inc., Morton Methodist Church or Apostolic Christian LifePoints. Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Apostolic Christian Restmor and OSF Hospice for the love and care given to their mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.
  Person ID	I1561	Genealogy | Stetzler Family
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Garlish, Henry Albert,   b. 20 Feb 1876, Tazewell, Illinois, United States d. 29 Aug 1937, Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, United States (Age 61 years)
  Mother	Hafliger, Ella May,   b. 26 Nov 1883, Dillon, Illinois d. 30 Apr 1966, Canton, Illinois (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	19 Dec 1901	Dillon, Illinois
  Family ID	F1414	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Stetzler, William Joseph,   b. 16 Nov 1917, Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States d. 2 Mar 1998, Tazewell, Illinois, United States (Age 80 years)
  Marriage	25 Dec 1942	Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, United States
  	Address: First Prebyterian Church
  		William Stetzler Lois Garlish wedding
  Census	10 Apr 1950	Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States   [1]
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living   4. Living
  Family ID	F505	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	22 Jul 2024

  
  

• Event Map

  Marriage - Address: First Prebyterian Church - 25 Dec 1942 - Peoria, Peoria, Illinois, United States Census - 10 Apr 1950 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States Residence - Address: 621 S Main St - 1999 - Morton, Tazewell, Illinois, United States  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos		Lois Garlish
  		Lois Garlish 6 years old

  
  

• Notes

  MEMORIES OF BILL & LOIS STETZLER After reading my sister Estella Higgs autobiography, I decided to jot down some of our memories. Bill was born in a home that his parents moved into six weeks before he arrived on 16 Nov 1917 at 218 N. Third, Morton, IL. Bill's parents had lived in a spooky old house on Jefferson next to the AC Church and later built a new home at 206 W. Jefferson. One day Mom S found her son, Manuel sitting on the interurban tracks, so Dad S decided he should build out further. Bill played Basketball and the team went to State. Bill went to work at age 16 for his Dad in construction. He was drafted 5 Aug 41. He first went to Ft. Sheridan and from there to Ft Leonardwood, MO where he spent his time in service. We meet on a blind date in late Sept 1941, when I had 2 days left in Methodist Hospital of Peoria. We went to the Hub to a dance with four other couples, including George Annasenz's and Merlin & Gen Hall. We became engaged April 1, 1942. Bill was assigned to the Engineers. He taught rope tying and bridge building. He made furniture for the offices and 40 models of bridges that were displayed at different camps where engineers were trained. . We were married on 25 Dec 42 at the Presbyterian Church on Hamilton in Peoria because that was where I had time to go to church on Sunday if assigned a split shift. We took the rocket train to Chi for our honeymoon and saw Sonja Henie, the Olypmic skater. We lived in Rolla, MO in a hotel for 3 months. The room was very large and it cost a $1 a day and we even put our car in the garage, which was in the basement. I worked at St James private hospital. When housing became available at the fort we moved into a duplex which cost $30 a month. No hospital in area so I did not work. I returned home for Sandra's delivery in Nov 44 and Bill was discharged 5 Dec 44. He did come home to be with me for the delivery but he was so tired from driving he slept through the big event - so did I. Gen Hall Smith, a close friend, was with me. After his discharge we stayed with Bill's folks till an apartment was available. Bill enrolled at Bradley for a semester of drafting. He started our home in April before school was out. That summer was work work work. I painted windows three times wood and panes, canned 300 jars of food, and took care of our little one. We moved in Nov 45. His brothers Art came home from service and brother, Manuel carne back from CA shipyards about the time we moved in and Dad S. had some work lined up for them. Over the years they built many homes out of Lankton, Ziegele, Terry Arch Firm and some homes Bill designed for clients. One summer business was slow so they built a duplex to sell. Then several years before they retired they did more commercial --schools, nursing home, banks, swimming pools, garages, and etc. Thompson Food Basket was one of their clients. Bill's free time was serving as a board member for the Village of Morton for 28 years. (1947-1975) He did find time to play a little poker, pinochle and in his later years bridge. With four children, I found plenty to do, since Bill didn't have much time to help with windows and mowing. As the boys got older they helped if they weren't on one of the jobs. The girls were involved in 4 H and scouts and the boys were scouts to so they often went to camps in summer. I did join Home Bureau about 1953 or 4. I served on the County Board 4 years. A scout leader for 7 years and a 4-H leader for 9 years & served on the Morton United Fund board. Volunteering for Red Cross for 35 years, serving on the Taz Co Red Cross Board, CIC Red Cross Board in Peoria for several years. Served as an election judge many years and was active in the Republican Women's Club and County Republican work. In 1995 I received the County outstanding reward. About 1974 I joined Taz Co Genealogical Society and serve as Program Chairman for 14 years. Bill served on the Building Committee. PTA also took some time. When the children were older I started to play Bridge!! I had played auction as a youngster so it was a start. We took the Children to St Louis for weekends of swimming & Cardinals Ballgames each summer. Bill, his Mother, Uncle Henry, Jerry and I drove to CA in 1951. We took the 3 children to FLA one winter before Dave was born. We took Dave to FLA when he was 2 yrs and 5 yrs. We went a few times in the winter and had a baby sitter for the children. Went to NO and Jerry babysat for us when on semester break. We took the 4 children to Yellowstone in about 1958 in a station wagon and were gone about 2 weeks which was about one day too long. Bill got mad at me the last morning and we drove across Mo with no breakfast. When Sandy went to school and told of our problem, one of the Schwenk's said they drove across two states while their parents were not speaking. After the children were through college we went to Hawaii, Europe, Canadian Rockies, Carolina's, Texas, Louisiana, Kansas City, Colorado, Nova Scotia, New York City, Fla and Scandinavian Countries. We took lots of week end trips with Peoria Park District. Our cruising included two Caribbean, Panama Canal, Mediterranean, St Lawrence Seaway, Amazon River, and Alaska. We had lots of fun playing cards with the children over the years and with friends. My family got together almost every month and the men usually played poker. Stetzlers usually had holiday dinners and we started Family reunions several years ago in late summer. Stetzler's usually had breakfast in the park or picnics until their families got bigger. When Jerry was about 15 we bought a pool table so that attracted lots of youngsters on weekends. Before that WaIz's, our back door neighbors, had a pony so we also purchased one with a cart which the children & friends seem to enjoy. I should not tell this but the pool table attracted some trouble makers and one night when Dave was older, he and two buddies took some of my eggs and egged a coach's house. Dave told us he even liked the man. They got caught, which was good, so I had to go to the police station. His punishment was a month of confinement to home writing a report and pay for the window pane one of the boys threw a rock at. We purchased an interest in a farm with a lake west of Trivoli probably in the '60s. Dave enjoyed it so much especially the fishing that he never became an Eagle Scout like his brother, Jerry. He almost made it but the lake was more to his liking. Jerry & Mike Carius bought an old ambulance to take camping out west. It never got out of IL. After 2 or 3 flat tires they gave up and Mike's Mom let them drive a car. On one of their trips out west they fought forest fires instead of canoeing. Jerry and Bob Kirchner both built canoes from a kit. Jerry left his in the Snake River. Bob used his once on Schwartz's lake. In 1966 he was killed in an accident on the way home from the Peoria Fair. Fred Raymer and Jean Ackerman were also victims and Janet Stetzler & Nancy Raymer were seriously hurt. This was a rough weekend but we were thankful our children were not involved. I did not sleep for 3 nights. It was county fair time and all day judging clothes and I stayed with the girls two nights. The hardest thing was attending 3 funerals and returning Jean's 4-H dress to her Mom after the fair. The children's years in college were enjoyable - seeing them mature. I laugh as I recall the year Becky was starting to IL and Jerry was in his last at Bradley, I asked Bill for money and he said "do you think it grows on trees?” So I told him I needed surgery but I guess we cannot afford it. I don't need to tell you he felt pretty bad and am sure that was the last time we ever had a real argument. Before that if we had words he would go out and mow. He never mowed much that I recall. We had more ups than downs and four good children to be proud of. We enjoyed traveling to see them & their Families. I hope they will have the pleasures we had and enjoy good health. Bill & I celebrated our 50th wedding Anniversary on December 26, 1992 with family and friends at the Peppermill in Morton. Bill, I, and the children attended the Morton Apostolic Church. I now volunteer at the AC Restmor Nursing Home.

  
  

• Sources

  [S3328] Lois M Stetzler, "United States Census, 1950".