Mercedes Madison Stehl

Mercedes Madison Stehl, age 19, of Lanark, IL, passed away tragically from an automobile accident on Friday, April 14, 2023, near Lena, IL. A funeral service will be held Thursday, April 20, 2023 at Law Jones Funeral Home, in Lanark at 11 a.m. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, April, 19, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Law Jones Funeral Home in Lanark, as well as one hour prior to Thursday’s service. Burial will follow at Lanark Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at Exchange State Bank to assist with final expenses.

Mercedes was born October 21, 2003, in Fort Madison, IA, the daughter of Philip and Ashley (Sturm) Stehl. She attended Eastland Schools. Most recently, she was working as a nanny, and she had sincere love for those children.

From an early age, it was clear that Mercedes had a zest for life. She was carefree, outgoing, and had a huge heart. Her infectious smile was always sure to light up the room. She was the type of girl who would give away her last dollar, if someone needed it more than she. This led to strong and meaningful friendships, and a deep love for her family.

She loved the outdoors and had an adventurous spirit; two things that carried with her into young adulthood. She spent many summer days camping at Lake Ladonna and Lowden State Park, enjoying float trips down the sugar river and lounging on the Mississippi River beaches with her friends, and cheering on her uncle John at the dirt track car races. Perhaps her favorite activity was kayaking, especially down the Rock River with her dad.

When she wasn’t outdoors, Mercedes enjoyed shopping, a variety of music, and Starbucks coffee; often all three at once. She enjoyed time spent in the gym, possessed an affinity for tattoo art, and liked to splurge on her hair and nails. She also had a talent for cooking and baking, but not so much for cleaning up afterwards! But her yummy treats, infectious smile, and seeing her dance around the kitchen like no one was watching, made the clean-up feel like a small price to pay.

Mercedes will be dearly missed by her father, Philip Stehl, of Lanark; siblings, Tanner, of Keokuk, IA, Brayden, of Lanark, and Jacelynn, of Keokuk; maternal grandmother, Jeannie Rule, of Keokuk; paternal grandmother, Phyllis Zell, of Lanark; many aunts, uncles, and cousins; and many more special family members and friends, and her beloved cat, Oreo. Mercedes is preceded in death by her grandfathers, Dennis Stehl, Michael Zell, and Bill Rule and paternal great-grandmother Geraldine Johnson.