Daryl H. Steinhagen

Daryl H. Steinhagen, age 82, of Elizabeth, Illinois, went home to be with his Lord, Jesus, on February 22, 2024, as a result of complications from pneumonia and COVID. Daryl was born August 31, 1941, in Freeport, Illinois to Roy T. & Lola (Ploeger) Steinhagen.

Daryl graduated from Oregon High School in 1959. He attended Barber School in Rockford and graduated in 1962. He was a barber in Rockton, Illinois until he purchased his own (Daryl’s) Barber Shop in Hanover, Illinois in 1969. He barbered full time 1962-1975 and part-time 1975-2020. Daryl was a mail carrier at the Savanna Post Office from 1975-2004. He had the ability to tell you where anyone from Savanna lived.

The Oregon Roller Rink, owned by his father, is where Daryl met Barb Seipts. They married August 18, 1962. They raised their daughters, Debbie and Deanna, to be kind, caring, and have a good work ethic.

Daryl liked to travel the world, fish, garden, and attend family reunions to learn about his family tree. He loved to take photos with a camera and print the photos, long before having a camera on a phone. He had a green thumb and violets were his favorite. For many years he enjoyed going to breakfast on Saturday mornings with his cousin, Tom and Deb Kloepping. His favorite pastime was playing card games and Yahtzee with his family.

Daryl was the friendliest person and loved to talk with people to boast about his kids, grandkids, great grandkids because he was so extremely proud of all of them. He could start a conversation with a complete stranger and walk away friends or at least knowing their life story within 15 minutes. He was truly interested in learning about other people and their family or career. He liked to tell jokes or make people laugh. He was a #1 fan of all his Facebook friends, commenting on every single photo or post. We will miss all his instant likes and hilarious comments.

His greatest treasure was his 6 grandchildren and he took every opportunity to visit them wherever they lived. He was overjoyed to witness all 6 graduate from college. His great grandchildren were the highlight of his life and he adored watching them play and getting to Facetime with them often. Daryl will be dearly missed and cherished by his family and friends.

He was a member of the Mississippi Lodge #385, Savanna, Illinois; Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Valley of Freeport; Tebala Shrine, Rockford, Illinois; Grand Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Black Hawk Order No. 8, Stockton, Illinois; Knights of Columbus Trinity Council 14776; and Holy Cross Catholic Church, Stockton, Illinois. He served on Elizabeth Village Board and volunteered at the Hanover Fire Department for many years.

Daryl is survived by his wife, Barb, of 61 years, his daughters, Debbie (Jay) Graves of Elizabeth, Illinois and Deanna (Greg) Boughton of Dallas, Georgia; grandchildren, Emily (Jacob) Schwind, Amy Graves, Andrew Graves, David Boughton, Grace Boughton, Anna (fiancé Noah Eklund) Boughton; great grandchildren, Kinsley & Kyler Schwind; brothers-in-law Joe (Val) Seipts, Tom (Sherri) Seipts; sisters-in-law, Mata Seipts and Marianne Page; 39 nieces, nephews and greats; many friends and cousins; and his favorite cat, Willie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Bill & Marion Seipts; brothers-in-law, Jim Seipts, Michael Seipts, Fred Rambow; sisters-in-law, Mary Rambow and Jean Wetzel.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Chris Stille and the MercyOne nurses and doctors for the wonderful care he received during his illness.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Stockton, IL. Visitation will take place from 4:15 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday May 31, 2024, at Law Jones Funeral Home in Elizabeth, IL. There will be a Masonic Service at 4 p.m., before the visitation.

Memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital in Chicago or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.