Robert Stuehlmeyer

Robert “Bob” Lee Stuehlmeyer Bob was born at home in Centralia, IL, on March 2, 1929. His parents were Leo H. and Lucille (Francois) Stuehlmeyer (deceased). He weighed about 2 & ½ pounds, and the Dr. said he wouldn’t live, and didn’t issue a birth certificate. He slept in a tiny sewing machine drawer on a hot water bottle and was fed with an eye dropper. He wasn’t supposed to survive, but God had a plan for his life. Bob had a brother, Lawrence (Bud) Stuehlmeyer (Deceased), and a sister, Arlene (Stuehlmeyer) Mosby (Deceased) & Bill. Bob married Mary Louise (Sherman) Stuehlmeyer (Deceased) on August 30th, 1947. They bought a one room house, with no water, in Hubbards Woods. Bob would stop by his parent’s house and pick up water every night after work. Bob and Mary celebrated 70 years of marriage on August 30th, 2017. They had 4 children, Connie Lee (Stuehlmeyer) Simmons (Deceased), Penny Kay (Stuehlmeyer) Robb and Sterling, Robert Brent Stuehlmeyer and Debbie, and Larry Wayne Stuehlmeyer and Lisa. Bob and Mary had 11 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. Bob started working for the IL Central Railroad when he was 15 years old, he held many positions but enjoyed working in the wood mill as a carman. He helped build the caboose that is in Fairview Park. He worked for 45 years and retired at age 60. He enjoyed 31 years of retirement. Bob loved Cardinal Baseball and Orphans Basketball. Bob and Mary loved to travel, they went to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Rome, Paris, London, Venice, Austria, Netherlands, two trips to Germany, Mexico, Canada, and most of the US, including two trips to Alaska, and two trips to Hawaii. They visited 14 countries together. Bob’s passion and heart have been in serving the Lord and his church faithfully. He was a charter member of Eternity Baptist Church, where he has held many positions over the years. He helped build several of the church buildings, he served as Deacon and was the church song leader for many of the early years. He was the Training Union Director and Associational Training Union Director. But his most cherished positions were that of Church Historian of 63 years and being a Sunday School teacher for 65 years. He was actively still teaching the adult men’s class until his death. He wrote and had published, ETERNITY BAPTIST CHURCH, A Pictorial History, about the history of the church. Bob was born during the Great Depression and died during a pandemic. Bob passed away peacefully at his home from natural causes, surrounded by family, on Thursday, April 9, 2020. He was 91 years old. Bob’s memory will be treasured, and he will always be loved and missed dearly, but Bob and Mary are together again, rejoicing in Heaven. Due to the pandemic, a private funeral service for Robert “Bob” Stuehlmeyer will be held Wednesday, April 15, 2020 and the service will be broadcasted and uploaded to the Funeral Home website after 1:00 PM. Entombment will be held at Hillcrest Lakeside Mausoleum in Centralia. Memorials may be made to the Eternity Baptist Church and will be accepted at the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home at 235 North Sycamore Street Centralia, Illinois 62801, (618)532-3523, who is honored to be of service to the Stuehlmeyer Family. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfunerlahome.com and the Sutherland-Garnier Funeral Home Facebook Page.

Robert Stuehlmeyer

March 21, 1929 - April 9, 2020