Stuart "Stu" S. Stone

Stuart “Stu” Steven Stone, age 74, passed away February 4, 2017, at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL. He was born on May 1, 1942, to Virginia Louise and Stuart Wallace Stone. He will be long remembered as Publisher of the Glen Ellyn News, tireless volunteer in Glen Ellyn and Fire Chief for the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Department. His dad’s motto was, “Always Mindful of the Needs of Others,” a phrase Stu continued as his own.

Stu attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College and went on to work in the family business, the Glen News Printing Company.  He became Publisher after his father’s death and continued in that role until the paper was sold in 1999.

His lifelong passion was the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company, having been a member for 53 years, 23 years of which were spent as Chief. Many stories will be told of his quick response in time of need during his years spent on the Department.  Stu felt during his tenure as a volunteer fireman, he was honored to be working alongside the finest group of people he would ever know.

After Stu retired from publishing, he fulfilled his life-long dream of owning his own farm.  He made the trip to Mt. Carroll, IL, to actively farm and make himself a part of the farming community there. He was a member of the Carroll County and Illinois Farm Bureaus.

During his life, Stu was an active, and prolific volunteer in Glen Ellyn, the communities the papers served and the Mt. Carroll community.  One enduring membership was being a Mason.  He was a Life Member of Glen Ellyn Lodge No. 950, the DuPage Council No. 128, the Wheaton Chapter No. 242, and the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago.  He was also the Grand Sentinel of the Grand Commandery of the Knights Templar of the State of Illinois. Stu amassed a long list of achievements during the 53 years he was a member of the Masons.

The list of organizations to which Stu belonged is extensive, and he felt each activity enriched his life with wonderful opportunities and memories. He brought joy to countless children each year as he magically lit the Christmas tree and then listened to each child’s dreams for Christmas. He was President of the Glen Ellyn Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow.  As Chair of the Glen Ellyn Salvation Army Unit for 45 years, he guided the Christmas basket program with the Glen Ellyn Jr. Women’s Club. The Glen Ellyn Chamber gave Stu the Chamber Man of the Year Award in 1977 and made him a Lifetime Board director. Stu was deemed a “Treasure” from the Village of Glen Ellyn.  The Jaycees honored him as Citizen of the Year and made him a Lifetime Member.  Wheaton Mayor Bob Martin made him an Honorary Citizen. And, the list goes on.

Stu was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Rocky and his sister Kaye Haas.

Stu’s family was first in his life.  Family left to honor Stu’s memory are his daughter Carrie (Jason) Leitzman and her children, Justin (Patricia), Tyler and Hannah.

Siblings Carole (Gilbert) Baumann, Jan (Harold) Sanderson, TL (Thomas) Arends, and Sister in law, Linda; Step children Tammy (John) Collum, Rob (Lisa) and Tom (Nancy) Sefranek and Tammi Sefranek, their children as well as many nieces and nephews. And, his loving companion for many years, Shelley Jordan, her children and grandchildren.

Visitation will be Thursday, February 9th, 4-8pm and Friday, February 10th, 3-9 pm at Leonard Memorial Home, 565 Duane Street, Glen Ellyn. A Funeral Service is planned for 10 am Saturday, February 11th, at Parkview Community Church, 764 St. Charles Road, Glen Ellyn.  Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 460, Glen Ellyn IL 60138 or to the Salvation Army, 1-800 SALARMY (725-2769), www.donate.salvationarmyusa.org. Funeral Info: (630) 469-0032

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