April 20, 1929 - April 28, 2008

Joseph S. Stevenson, 79, of Lebanon, died Monday at his home.

Joe was born April 20, 1929, in Streator, Ill., the youngest of four children of James V. and M. Lucie Stevenson.

He graduated from Streator High School in 1947. Joe's college career at the University of Illinois was interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served two years during the Korean Conflict before returning to college. Joe earned a Bachelor of Science in agricultural engineering from the University of Illinois in 1956, where he was a member of the FarmHouse fraternity.

Joe married Carolyn G. McGinty in Mansfield, Ohio, on Sept. 20, 1958.

Although he designed agricultural buildings as his occupation, Joe was best known by family and friends for his gift of the written word. He was also hailed as the "family genealogist."

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; daughters Cynthia S. Stevenson and her husband, Rick, of Corvallis, Hope Goering and her husband, Dick, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, Stephanie Sidhom and her husband, Hany, of Tacoma, Wash., Priscilla Schoenberg and her husband, Jeff, of West Bend, Wis.; brother Wilbert Stevenson and wife, Betty, of Bloomington, Ill.; grandchildren Maggie Stevenson, Melanie Goering, Joe Goering, Benjamin Sidhom, Natalie Sidhom, Sam Schoenberg, Holly Schoenberg, and Allison Schoeberg; sister-in-law Inez Stevenson, of Bloomington, Ill.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, sister M. Ruth Sidell, brother Ernest Stevenson, cousin Robert Brandes, and infant son Andrew Stevenson.

A memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Friday, May 2, at First Presbyterian Church, Corvallis. The Rev. Vicky Curtiss will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faith United Presbyterian Church, 200 S. Eighth St, Monmouth, IL 61462. Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling arrangements.