Duane 'Biggen' Steele, 84

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Duane “Biggen” Steele, 84, of Palmer, died at 8:46 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019, at his home in Palmer.

Visitation will be held on Monday, Dec. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Sutton Memorial Home in Taylorville. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Sutton Memorial Home in Taylorville with Rev. Dick Wamsley officiating. Inurnment will be at Anderson Cemetery in Palmer.Sutton Memorial Home in Taylorville is assisting the family with arrangements.

Mr. Steele was born on Aug. 25, 1935, in Palmer, to Joseph and Laura (Waddle) Steele Sr. He married Lenora Montgomery on June 23, 1969, in Alton. Mr. Steele was a Bear Creek Township Board Trustee for over 50 years. He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America and he retired from Peabody Mine #10. 

Mr. Steele loved gardening and playing the teletrack. His family describes him as the social media before social media; he loved his morning coffee, talking, telling stories and sharing pictures at Arby’s. He especially loved spoiling his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Steele is survived by his wife; daughters, Gerri (Keith) Conrath of Taylorville, Cathy (Mike Miller) Lee of Auburn, Vicki (Ted) Charles of Riverton and Krystal (Steve Lopez) Steele of Ft. Walton Beach, FL; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; son-in-law, Wes Streight of Raymond; sister-in-law, Jean Steele of Palmer; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Lavon Streight; and brothers, Clifford Steele, Glenn “Buzz” Steele, Joe Steele Jr.  

Memorials may be made to the Morrisonville Community Ambulance Service, 311 6th Street, Morrisonville, IL 62546 or Taylorville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Activity Fund, 800 Mc Adam Drive, Taylorville, IL 62568. 

Condolences may be left online at suttonmemorialhome.com.