obituaries

Michael Stahl

Jerseyville |

Michael David "Big Mike" Stahl, 58, passed away peacefully at 11:58 p.m., January 29, 2025, at Litchfield Health and Rehab Center, surrounded by family.

He was born in Jerseyville, Illinois on August 16, 1966, and was the son of William and Carol (Baze) Stahl.

He graduated in 1984 from Jersey Community High School in Jerseyville, and was a longtime employee of Kienstra in Wood River, and later worked at Alton Steel as a crane operator until his declining health.

Mike married former Jerseyville resident Tonya Hunn (Schneider) on February 14, 2003, and together they had three beautiful children, Whitney, Michael and Victoria.

Mike was always the life of the party, and he cherished his time with friends.  He had a very close bond to so many, but particularly with Chris Purcell, Kenny Surratt, Dave Fricker, Carl Fricker and Tony Gunterman; as well as Bobby Kuehnel who passed away on August 3, 2019.

Mike loved spending time with his children, as they were his entire world. He was known to drive 30 minutes just to bring them a soda or drop whatever he was doing to go fishing with Mikey. He had a special bond with his siblings, his nephew, Josiah, and also a family friend's daughter, Hemi.

He loved to bowl and belonged to numerous bowling leagues and cherished his years bowling with Rob Kuehnel. He really enjoyed their bus rides to Pittsfield for bowling tournaments, which always ended with bar hopping to various locations on their way home, having fun and laughing. Most of all, fishing was Mike's passion and was the time he was most at peace. He did not go a day without talking about his boat or wanting to go fishing.

Mike is survived by his parents, William and Carol Stahl of Jerseyville; his three children, Whitney Stahl and Michael Stahl Jr., both Litchfield and Victoria Stahl of Jerseyville;  two sisters, his twin, Misty Johnson of Jerseyville and Anna Cummings of Jerseyville; a brother, Garret Stahl of Jerseyville; two nieces and their spouses, Tashena and Michael Kuhlman of Jerseyville and Denisha and Daniel Kochanski of Bethalto; two nephews, Audie (Scott) Hayes of Alton and Josiah Stahl of Jerseyville; along with a great nephew, Deion Kochanski.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Kenneth "Gene" and Viola Baze, August and Anna Stahl, two aunts and an uncle, Linda Lambert and Doris "Jeanie" and Francis "Sonny" Surratt; and a cousin, Vicki Surratt.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

He will be laid to rest in Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Carrollton.

Memorials may be given to his family in care of the funeral home to assist with funeral expenses.

Memories may be shared at www.crawfordfunerals.com.


Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home

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