Michael J. Stohl

Michael John Stohl, 63, of Colona passed away November 17, 2024 at his home surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle. 

A funeral Mass will be 10:00am Saturday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Colona. Visitation will be 4-7pm Friday with a Rosary at 3:30pm at Schroder Mortuary in Colona. Burial will be at a later date at Dayton Corners Cemetery in Colona. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to one's favorite charity.

Michael was born September 18, 1961 in Geneseo, IL the son of Wayne and Helen Lulich Stohl. He was the 8th child of their 11 children. He shared with us that he was glad he was the first of the siblings to go, not wanting to watch all of us leave before him. We felt God must have really loved him to take him first, especially since he was the 8th child in line, and we told him so. He sometimes spoke when it was necessary and even when it wasn’t, that was Mike. 

Graduating from J.D. Darnall High School in 1980. There he competed in wrestling, track and field, throwing the shot put and setting a record in the discus. He was an outdoorsman enjoying hunting, fishing and trapping. Growing up in the small town of Cleveland, IL he played pickup games in the neighborhoods and enjoyed snow and water skiing. He also excelled at dirt bike racing. He was the ultimate perfectionist, if Mike did it you knew it was done right. There wasn't anything that he couldn't do. 

He grew up in the family plastering business and then as a welder for several years at Sivco and George Evans Corporation before starting his own company, Mike Stohl Construction, specializing in demolition, concrete and bridge building. He was a skilled licensed crane operator. 

He was rooted in the Catholic faith and was a lifelong member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Colona. Mike loved his family, friends, and his animals from Robbie, the orphaned fawn, to his beloved dogs "everybody loves" Andre to Max and Sasha. He appreciated his heritage even acquiring the Shuh/Stohl farm established in 1886 and commemorating it with a beautiful stone and landscaping that he called the riverside nursery. He loved being on the property and took up farming as his hobby. 

Mike was the BEST storyteller, had an incredible sense of humor, and loved people. There will never be another like him. He did it his way, and that truly made all the difference. Wherever he went so went a story and his story isn’t over yet. We will miss and love you dearly. 

Survivors include his siblings Mary Pellizzari of Savoy, IL, Sharon Stohl of Berkley, IL, Barbara (Dave) Baker of Springfield, MO, Louise (Ron) Cover of Blue Grass, IA, Nadine (Jerry Kruse) Palmgren of Geneseo, IL, Steve (Jan) Stohl of Cleveland, IL, Anthony (Jenny) Stohl of Blue Grass, IA, Julie (William) Houseman of Fort Worth, TX, Joan (Mary Stalzer) Stohl of Chicago, IL, and Tracey Stohl of Daytona Beach, FL and several nieces and nephews. 

Michael was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Bill Pellizzari.