Jerry Dean Stead, 91 of Viola, passed away quietly on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at Genesis Medical Center, Silvis, Illinois. Services will be held at Dennison Funeral Home, Viola, on Wednesday, June 28, with visitation from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 12:30 p.m. Burial will be in Viola Cemetery with military rites by Aledo American Legion Fallerans Post 121. Per the wishes of the family, memorials may be left to the Millersburg Cemetery or Viola United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be left at www.dennisonfuneralhome.com.
Jerry Dean Stead was born the third child of Lyle and Gladys Minteer Stead in Millersburg, Illinois, on April 7, 1932. During his last eleven or twelve years, he had successfully fought off both cancer and later, severe covid, but time seemed to just catch up with him. Jerry graduated from Aledo High School. He then proudly served our country in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict between 1953 and 1954. He was especially proud of being present at the ceremony when the conflict ended with the signing of the Armistice on July 27, 1953.
After an honorable discharge from the Army, Jerry turned to farming. He married Phyllis L. Gardner, together they had two children Sharon Marie and Joseph Dean Stead. Jerry and Phyllis later divorced. During that time, as with a lot of small farmers, it became impossible to continue farming, and Jerry went to work at Alcoa Aluminum. After many years of retirement, Jerry would brag that he’d gotten more from Social Security than he’d paid in.
In February of 1967, Jerry married Shirley A. Utz in Aledo, Illinois. Shirley had been a friend of the family in their youth and she was widowed in 1965. Shirley had three sons from her first marriage, Floyd Richard, Randall Wayne, and Robert Kevin Utz. Together, Jerry and Shirley raised their five children. For many years, Jerry and Shirley operated their own landscaping and nursery business in Viola. The couple had over fifty-five years of marriage before Shirley preceded him in death on December 17, 2022, at the age of 86.
Left to remember Jerry are his children: Sharon Stead Tahere (John) of Walcott, Iowa, Joe Stead (Tracy) of Viola, Illinois, Floyd Utz (Joyce) of New Windsor, Illinois, Randy Utz (Sharon) of Roseville, California, and Robert Utz (Emelyne) of Seattle, Washington, and daughter-in-law: Kim Utz of Sequim, Washington. Also left to remember Jerry are 12 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren (with two more on the way) that were the light of his life. There are also brothers-in-law: Dave Creek (Laura) of Manchester, Tennessee, John Creek (Becky) of Lebanon, Tennessee, and Paul Creek ( Anita) of Alexis, Illinois; sisters-in-law: Bonnie Frieden of Aledo, Illinois, Ethel Creek Conard (Owen) of Elephant Butte, New Mexico, Mary Creek Shaw (Rick) of Alexis, Gean Creek of Alexis, Shirley Creek of Galesburg, Illinois, and Shirley Creek of Kerrville, Texas. There are also dozens upon dozens of nieces, nephews, and cousins that will remember Jerry.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife: Shirley; his parents; his older brother: Jack Stead; and his older sister: Alice Seaton as well as her husband Dick.