Howard Stahlheber

After 93 years of adventures, a million books collected and read and miles traveled the world over, Howard Stahlheber has finally taken time to rest; January 8, 2021.  Howard was the last of ten children born to Rudolph and Myrtle (Quigley) Stahlheber on September 3, 1927 in Pinckneyville, Illinois.  His adventures began after he graduated from Pinckneyville High School in 1945 toward the end of WWII when he joined the U.S. Merchant Marines. 

Sailing across the Atlantic, he visited France and Italy, where he finished out the remainder of his duty as a merchant seaman after the war.  Upon completion of his service in the Merchant Marines, Howard re-enlisted with the U.S. Air Force. After completing his military service, he used his GI bill to obtain his B.A. in Spanish from Mexico City College and Southern Illinois University. He eventually earned his Masters degree from Northern Illinois University. He worked a variety of jobs from hog farming to insurance sales until he followed his brother to Rockford Illinois, which is where he began his teaching career and met the love of his life, Janet Elaine Mitchell. They were married on February 1, 1957.

Howard started teaching at Rochelle Township High School in the Autumn of 1962, and a few years later moved the family to the Rochelle area, where he and his wife raised their four children. His love for teaching, foreign language and cultures, and travel continued throughout Howard’s life. For several summers in the 1970’s Howard and his family spent their entire summers in Guadalajara, Mexico. Sharing his love of cultures with students though his colorful classroom or guided trips was his passion. Sometimes he would go completely off script and demonstrate his remarkable talent of shooting a pop bottle cap off a doorknob with a marble from across the room. He eventually retired from Rochelle Township High School in 1987.

After retirement, Howard loved large gatherings of family and friends, where he could share many of his stories or driving one of his several Model-A Fords in the various parades around town. One special moment was when Universal Studios rented all four of his Model A Cars for the movie Public Enemies (2008), and for one week he got to drive one of those cars on the movie set, which was filmed in Chicago. He could also be spotted playing his harmonica, or just birdwatching in the backyard.

He is survived by his wife, Janet of 64 years, their four children, Elaine Stahlheber, Bruce Stahlheber, Carl (Romel Rodriguez) Stahlheber and Susan Kivikko, two grandchildren, Collin and Casey Kivikko, two great grandchildren, David and Daniel Stahlheber, many nieces and nephews. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, all nine of his siblings, and his grandson Eric Stahlheber.

Our gratitude for the Unity Hospice team.  The care, guidance and support were invaluable, helping us all achieve the best last years, “a body could have hoped for.”  He was especially grateful.

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