Roleen June (Ernst) Stierwalt, 84, of Gillespie, died Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020, at 2:45 a.m. at Heritage Health: Therapy and Senior Care in Gillespie.
A private Celebration of Life will be held with immediate family members. Kravanya Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Mrs. Stierwalt was born June 18, 1936, in Litchfield, one of four daughters of Milo and Clara (Meyer) Ernst. She married Jerry Stierwalt in 1959, and he preceded her in death on July 4, 2002.
A 1954 graduate of Mt. Olive High School, she graduated from Capital University in Bexley, OH, in 1959 with a degree in physical education. Upon graduation, she began her teaching career in Alton, followed by teaching jobs in Litchfield, Gillespie and Mt. Olive.
Upon retirement from teaching, she continued working as an agent at Country Companies Insurance in Gillespie, and later as an associate with Famous-Barr in Springfield. She was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Gillespie, as well as a lifetime member of the American Association of University Women (AAUW), and was a previous board member of the Macoupin County Health Department mental health services.
In her spare time, she enjoyed playing the piano, playing tennis, playing cards, traveling, reading and spending time with family and friends. Energetic, enthusiastic, with a zest for life described her passion for living, learning and the Lord.
She is survived by three children, Mitch Stierwalt of Chelsea, AL, Jean (Stierwalt) Hannig and Rich Stierwalt, both of Chatham; four grandchildren, Tyler Stierwalt of Alanta, GA, Cal Stierwalt of Denver, CO, Elliott Hannig of Springfield and Olivia Hannig of Chatham; one great-grandchild, Max Hannig of Springfield; one sister, Orva Niehaus of Mt. Olive; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and other relatives, friends and neighbors.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by sisters, Marian Ernst in 1942, and Janet (Ernst) Stobart in 2014; and brother-in-law, Arthur Niehaus, Jr. in 2006.
Memorials may be made to The Partnership for Educational Excellence in Gillespie.
Online condolences may be left at www.kravanyafuneral.com.
