Eugene C. Steele

Eugene C. Steele, age 72, of rural Elizabeth, Illinois, went home to his heavenly Father Friday, October 23, 2009, at the Midwest Medical Center in Galena, Illinois. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, from 3 – 8:00 p.m. at the Law – Jones Funeral Home in Hanover, Illinois. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 28, at the Savanna Bible Church in Savanna, Illinois. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery, Hanover. A memorial has been established in Eugene’s name. Eugene was born April 1, 1937, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of George A. and Alta I. (Miller) Steele. He graduated from Hanover High School with The Class of 1955. Eugene married Janice Clarkson on February 11, 1956, at the Hanover United Methodist Church. Eugene farmed his entire life in the Hanover area on the farm his great grandfather homesteaded in 1856. He loved farming, especially driving the combine, and raising cattle. Eugene was a Farm Bureau Director and a Deacon on the Church Board of the Savanna Bible Church. He enjoyed going for rides on his motorcycle and loved his dogs. Eugene loved his children and grandchildren, and will be dearly missed.Eugene is survived by his wife Janice Steele of Elizabeth, Illinois; one daughter, Judy (Glenn) Beckett of Gilbert, Arizona; three sons, John (Mary) Steele of Elizabeth, Jerry (Margie) Steele of Merriam, Kansas, and James (Angie) Steele of Elizabeth; and twelve grandchildren, Austin and Emily Steele, Amanda Harshberger, Taylor and Kyle Beckett, Jeff, Matt and Mollie Steele, and Megan, Luke, Timothy and Andrew Steele.Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, two infant daughters, and one infant son.