Judith Marie (Simkins) Stiel, of Mendota, passed away peacefully at Manor Court, Peru in the loving company of her family and thoughtful caregivers on April 21, 2021.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday April 26, 2021 at Holy Cross Church, Mendota with Father Peter Pilon officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Mendota. Visitation will be Sunday from 1-3 p.m at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. Face masks are required and social distancing encouraged.

Judy turned 80 March 22, 2021. She was born in 1941 in LaMoille to Howard and Gladys (Sollenberger) Simkins; she was the oldest of their five children.

Judy attended a one room school house at the end of her gravel road, then the historic Allen School in LaMoille, and went on to be in the first class to graduate from the new LaMoille High School in 1959, where she participated in choir and flag twirling. Shortly after, Judy was a candidate in the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival, where she was escorted by Alan Stiel, who would be her future husband.

Alan and Judy were married September 3,1960 and shortly after Alan was drafted. The young couple spent some time in Lawton, Oklahoma before returning to Illinois to start and raise their family. They have been married an adventure-filled 60 years in 2020.

Judy took great pride in gardening, euchre clubs, and parntners bowling with her husband. She even took up golf and tennis to play sports with family friends. Mostly, Judy loved raising a family and being at family events. You could find her driving a go-kart on vacations, cheering in the stands at her grandchildren's baseball and softball games and on "girls outings" with her daughters and grandchildren. Judy was an enthusiastic presence at extended family events from holidays at her parents' farm to the family's long-running euchre tournament. Judy is always remembered as a loving, kind, full hearted person we will dearly miss.

Judy took pride in being an 18 year breast cancer survivor and took part in Relay for Life and Race for the Cure walks. Judy was also proud of her career as an executive secretary for 35 years to Phalen Steel Construction Company.

She is survived by her husband Alan; her three children Jeff (Kendra) Stiel, Christy Stiel and Vickie Stiel; her siblings Jerry (Joyce) Simkins, Roger (Jean) Simkins, Richard (Deb) Simkins and Kathleen (Bill) Kirkman; her grandchildren Jacob Stiel, Brandon Stiel and Olivia Strawn whom she loved dearly and by numerous wonderful nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two loving aunts, Ruby Biehl and Evelyn Flannagan.

Memorials may be directed to Alzheimer's Association or Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.