Richard Stevens 1927 - 2018

Richard “Dick” Stevens, 90, of Sun City, Arizona, formerly of Shannon Illinois, passed on March 17 after battling cancer for over a year. He was born March 22nd, 1927 at home in Shannon to parents Walter and Helen (Beebe) Stevens. Dick enlisted in the US Naval Reserves shortly before graduating from Shannon High School in 1945. He served as a Legal Yeoman in the Philippines during and after World War II. He was a member of the American Legion for over 70 years. Dick was privileged to participate in an honor flight to Washington DC for WWII veterans in the spring of 2014. After his service discharge he attended Brown’s Business College of Commerce in Freeport and was a bookkeeper for several area businesses. Dick later served as the Shannon rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 36 years, retiring in 1985. He was a volunteer fireman for many years. Dick also engaged in real estate sales and development, both in Illinois and Arizona where he moved upon retirement. Dick married Lois J. Wittberger on June 9, 1951. Lois and Dick had three children. They divorced in 1977. Music was a very important part of Dick’s life. For over 80 years he played the clarinet in various bands including town bands, Dixieland bands, German bands, dance bands, pops bands and concert bands, both in Northwest Illinois and Arizona. He loved playing the clarinet and being part of a bigger musical expression. Dick also enjoyed playing the piano, growing flowers, boating, playing cards, ballroom dancing and petting and walking his dog Buddy. Survivors include his long-time companion Jean Beyer, daughters Diane Stevens of Bedford, TX, Mary Blackmore of Forreston, IL, son Frank Stevens (Marina Ovrutsky) of Saint Johns, FL, grandsons Mitchell and Christopher Stevens of Fairfield, NJ, brother Tom Stevens (Linda Maddox Graham) of Sun City West, AZ, sister-in-law Mary Stevens Laesch (Richard) of Shannon, IL, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Dick was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Joseph and Charles, and sister Cecelia. Cremation rites have been accorded. A funeral service will be held at the Congregational Church of Sun City on Saturday, March 24th at 11 AM, followed by lunch and a time of fellowship. A visitation and interment will be held at a later date in Dick’s hometown of Shannon, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name for the Congregational Church of Sun City and the Arizona Humane Society.