William V. Steele, Jr., 79

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William “Bill” V. Steele, Jr., 79, of Springfield, died at 8:08 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021, at Memorial Medical Center.

Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday, Oct. 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Springfield, with the Rev. Manuel P. Cuizon, C.R.S., PhD,celebrant officiating. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery. Cremation was provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center. Butler Funeral Home in Springfield assisted the family with arrangements.

Mr. Steele was born on Nov. 29, 1941, in Springfield, the son of William V. Steele, Sr. and Margaret Brennan Steele. He married Mary Jo Ludwig in 1960, in Springfield and they were married for 20 years. He later married Rosemary E. “Roe”Bartolo on Oct. 9, 1982, in Springfield; she preceded him in death on Oct. 10, 2021.

Mr. Steele graduated from Cathedral Boys High School in 1959 and attended Springfield Junior College. He ran United Ready Mix with his parents and then was a traveling salesman for Roland Machinery in Springfield. Mr. Steele later worked for the State of Illinois CMS until his retirement. He was a member of St. Joseph Church, the Roman Cultural Society, and was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus with Bishop Griffin Assembly. In his spare time, he enjoyed gardening, working in his yard, painting,cooking (especially beef stew and chili) and was known for always wearing his cowboy boots.

Mr. Steele is survived by his children, William“Bill”V. (Rebecca) Steele, III of Springfield, James Michael “Mike”(Ceitha) Steele of Springfield, Frank Joseph (Beth) Steele of Nokomis, Cynthia (Keith) Hancock of Oconee and Susan Steele of Springfield; his children’s mother, Mary Jo Funk of Nokomis; grandchildren, William V. (Kayla) Steele, IV, Veronica (Mac) Brown, Vincent(Michelle) Steele, Alyce (John)Hannan, Abbey Steele, Keith Steele, Kyle (Sara)Hancock,Jake (Amanda) Steele, Jessi (Jim) Steele, Colton (Ally) Steele, Brody Steele, Riley Steele, and Remy Steele; great-grandchildren, Chloe, Margaret, Finley, Myla, Maren, Hannah, Hadley, Giovanni, Gianna, Genevieve,Jayben, Cayson and Canon; step-children, Michael“Mike”(Jill) Sanders of O’Fallon, Michelle “Shelly” Secker of Pearl City and Melinda “Mindy”Weller of Springfield;step-grandchildren, Jenelle (Myron) Stine, Kris(Stacie)Hancock, Taylor and Reagan Sanders, Katie (Nathan) Luckett, Nathan and Cooper Secker and Clayton and Brooklyn Weller;step great-grandchildren, Keira, Addilyn, Hailie,Owen, Hollie,Dominic and Peyton;sisters, Paula (Paul) Lawler of San Antonio, TX, and Penny Huelsman of McKinney, TX; and several nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; and brother-in-law, Eddie Huelsman.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Roman Cultural Society, P.O. Box 475, Springfield, IL 62705. Condolences may be left online at www.butlerfuneralhomes.com.