Robert Steele, 59, dies Tuesday

Robert G. Steele, 59, of 5790 Pine St., died at 7:10 a.m. Tuesday, April 18, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

He was born June 15, 1929, in Jacksonville, son of Robert and Mallie Auten Steele. He married Patsy L. Ashworth in 1954 in Chicago, and she survives.

Also surviving are three daughters, Colleen Steele and Dianne Wilson Steele, both of Springfield, and Catherine Alexander of Maryland; two stepsons, William Sullivan of Jacksonville and Glen Sullivan of Chicago; a brother, Jim Steele of Jacksonville; and two sisters, Mrs. Claude (Martha) Jones and Mrs. Harold (Jean) Carter, both of Jacksonville; two grandchildren, Anthony Sullivan of Jacksonville and Chelsea Steele of Springfield.

He was preceded in death by a daughter.

Mr. Steele worked for 22 years as a baker at the Jacksonville State Hospital, and also as payroll clerk at Chanen's. He was a member of the Lincoln Avenue Baptist Church, United Commercial Travelers (UCT), and Jacksonville Masonic Lodge 570 AF and AM, where he was hospitality commander and past master.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Williamson Funeral Home, with burial at Youngblood Cemetery in Nortonville. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. Thursday, with the family to meet friends 7-8:30 p.m. and Masonic services at 8:30 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Heart Fund.