Lindley Stacey

Lindley Charles Stacey, Sr., Captain (USN Ret), the son of John and Mary (Hollister) Stacey was born on July 10, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois and passed on June 7, 2021 in his Glen Ellyn home at the age of 89. Lin grew up in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago. He attended Lakeview High School where he excelled in track and football.  He followed his sister, Ruth, to Grinnell College where he continued his love of sports with such success that he was named Athlete of the Year.  More importantly, he met a beautiful, young brown-eyed girl, DeOnn Atherton, whom he affectionately called “Red”. Lin and DeOnn were married on December 27, 1952, in Charles City, Iowa. After graduating in 1953 with a degree in mathematics, he joined the US Navy and attended Officer Candidate School.  Lin’s first sea duty was aboard the U.S.S Douglas H. Fox DD - 779 as a Sonar and Torpedo Officer.  During his active duty, Lin saw service during the Korean War patrolling the east coast of the Korean peninsula.  He also completed a world cruise arriving back at his home port in Norfolk, VA.   Upon completion of his active duty, they settled in Glen Ellyn where he and DeOnn raised their family of five children.  Lin joined Western Electric as a computer programmer but continued to serve in the United States Naval Reserve retiring in July 1984 at the rank of Captain.  Not one to rest, he found his true calling late in life as a substitute teacher in Glen Ellyn School District 41.   Lin took great pride in influencing and seeing the growth of young minds. Lin and DeOnn were true world travelers but most enjoyed their trips in the fall to Bailey Island, Maine and winters on St. George Island off the Florida Panhandle.  There they hosted numerous visits from children and grandchildren.  As the son of a bricklayer, Lin took delight in stone work and carpentry. His work spanned from additions to the family home to treasured step stools for each grandchild. He is survived by his wife, DeOnn, his children: Lindley Jr. (Pat), Kathie (Paul and the late Jim Riner), Gordon (Liz), Mary Beth (Dan), Tom ( Janis); 13 grandchildren: Lin III, Tyler, Jessica (Chris), Jeremy ( Michelle), Jameson ( Angie), Jonathan (Amanda), Joshua (Kiley), Cali, Kristen, Stacia (Phil), Shannon (Nick), Tom, Jr and Ann; 10 great grandchildren: Kyee, Kalei, Tully, Aislin, Iris, Isla, June, Kwinn, Luke, Jack and a baby girl due in August;  brother, James (Carol), brothers- in- law: Mike (Nancy), Darrell (late Sharon), David (Linda) and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Ruth and brother, John Jr.  

A memorial gathering is scheduled on Saturday July 3, 2021 from 4 pm until 7 pm at Leonard
Memorial Home in Glen Ellyn, IL, with a time of remembrance at 5:30 to include Military
Honors.  Internment will be in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL
at 10:30 am on July 5, 2021.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Honor Flight Chicago  honorflightchicago.org,
Parkinson’s Foundation parkinson.org, or American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.

A livestreamed service in his honor will be held this Saturday the 3nd of July at 4:00 P.M. CST.  Please see the button on this page to access the service.