Billy Kayman Stees , 88, crossed his finish line and saw Jesus face to face on Saturday, November 26. God answered his prayers for a quick and pain-free departure while surrounded by family.

Bill was born September 20, 1934 as the only child of Paul and Opal Stees. He graduated from Forreston High School in 1951 and married his high school sweetheart, Janice Miller, on June 28, 1953.

If his family could describe Bill in one word, they would all agree upon the word "faithful."

As a teenager attending a Hyman Appleman evangelistic meeting, Bill realized that he was a sinner and that the only hope he had for complete peace in life was to trust in Jesus to save him. His life was never the same. He faithfully read his Bible every day, and he led his family in morning devotions around the breakfast table from the Daily Bread until his last day on earth. He hosted many Bible studies, encouraging the younger men around him. He was a faithful prayer warrior and greatly anticipated the day his faith would be made sight.

Bill and Jan were blessed with two children, Tim and Lori, who were both profoundly impacted by their parent's faith and faithfulness to their local church.

Bill and Jan were one of five couples who founded Shannon Baptist Church in 1962. They had no greater joy than to faithfully serve at and watch their children and some of their grandchildren grow up in that church. They were faithful servants and givers, youth workers, Sunday school teachers, children's church teachers, Silly Willy and Milly in VBS, and in Bill's later years, the penny counter for Bible school. The list could go on much longer.

Bill was a faithful provider for his family, owning a couple of stores and then working as a carpet installer. He tried to retire multiple times, but Jan kept sending him back to work. His favorite retirement job was driving RVs all over the US and Canada, visiting friends and family along the way.

Bill was a faithful fixer and tinkerer. If you needed something fixed, he was your man. He took great delight in mowing his lawn, blowing his snow, and giving the great-grands rides on his mower.

Bill and Jan were faithful hosts, the first to welcome strangers to their table, to offer a room for the fatherless, and to help the homeless. They were foster parents before foster parents were really a thing. They were quick to provide housing to church interns or offer up their home to large missionary families needing a place to stay.

Bill was preceded to Heaven by his parents, Paul and Opal Stees, and his wife of 54 years, Jan Stees.

Survivors include his son, Timothy (Linda) Stees of Hixson, TN; his daughter, Lorilee (David) Wood of Muscatine, IA; six granddaughters, Amy Stees, Audrey (Jon) Moore, Kaytlynn (Joe) Kopp, Whitney (Aaron) Cole, Shannon (Jordan) Allen, and Hannah Wood; and his favorite legacy, eleven great-grandchildren some of whom affectionately called him "GrandHappy:" Brooklynn, Ellie, JJ, Parker, Shepherd, Carter, Asher, Haven, Emmett, Jubilee and Carsten.

Visitation and funeral services will be Saturday, December 10th at Shannon Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 9:30-11:00 a.m. Pastor Tim Lehman will officiate the service at 11:00 a.m. followed by an interment at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport, IL.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established at Shannon Baptist Church. Condolences may be shared at www.hermannfuneralhome.com.