Eugene "Pudge" Bednar

Eugene “Pudge” Bednar, 83 passed away Saturday (June 24, 2017) at the Illinois Veterans Home, LaSalle.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Wednesday at the Solon-Telford Funeral Home, Streator with Rev. Caleb Suydam, officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 PM Tuesday and from 10:00-11:00 AM Wednesday at the Solon-Telford Funeral Home. Burial with full military rites conducted by members of American Legion Post # 217 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 1492 will be in Riverview Cemetery, Streator.

Mr. Bednar was born June 1, 1934 in Streator the son of George and Catherine (Seaman) Bednar. He married Sandra Gwinn on September 14, 1957 at St. Stephens Church. She preceded him in death on January 26, 1980. He married and is survived by Shirley Hayward, July 22, 1981 at Park Presbyterian Church. He was a member of Park Presbyterian Church, Streator, where he served as an elder. He was well known for his community volunteer roles including Streator Youth Baseball, Streator Youth Football, Lazy Acres fishing club, Light Up Streator, American Legion, Amvets#120, Streator Elks Club, and he was an inductee in the Streator High School Hall of Fame. He attended St. Stephen’s grade school and was a graduate of Streator High School, class of 1952.

He is survived by his wife Shirley Bednar, daughter Allyson (Bill ) Donelson , Cave Creek, AZ, sons, Greg (Vicki) Bednar, Glenview and Kirk (Julie) Bednar of Brentwood TN. , stepsons, Chuck (Marge) Hayward and Larry (Jill) Hayward both of Streator grandchildren, Kelsey, Maddy, Ryan, Kyle, Emily Bednar, Jesse and Sadie Risley, Shay (Bryan) Noonan, Jeff and Ryan Donelson, Kristi and Eric (Allyson) Hayward, Lucas and Cory Kelly and Ali (Stan) Taylor, nine great grandchildren and one sister, Marlene (Gerald) Gorski, Streator., sister-in-law, Jean Bednar and brother-in-law Cal Sloan, both of Streator, brother-in-law, Jim (Betty) Gwinn, Fairfield, NJ, and brother-in-law Dale Stillwell of Mesa, AZ and numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Josephine Sloan, Lucille Carby and Jean Sulzberger, brothers, Robert “Beaner”, Richard “Soup” and a brother George Bednar in infancy, brothers-in-law, Willard Carby, Frank Sulzberger and Don Stillwell, sisters-in-law, Sharon Bednar and Phyllis Stillwell.

He was a member United States Marine Corps and served in the Korean War. He returned to Korea in 2009 and was awarded the Ambassador of Freedom Medal.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, Jesse Risley, Ryan and Kyle Bednar and Eric Hayward, nephews Jeff Bednar, Bob, Mick and Dan Buckley. Honorary pallbearers will be his seven granddaughters and Jim Lansford

He spent most of his life as a printer, previously working for Sigma Press and Image Print, formerly Riverside Graphics and spent the last 20 years of his career as the manager of the print shop at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Pudge was a man who loved his family, community and faith. He was extremely proud of his children and cherished the time spent with his larger, extended family. He was always an advocate for Streator and played an important role in many community organizations.

He was an avid outdoorsman who spent much of his life hunting, fishing and gardening-passions that he passed on to his kids and grandkids. He also loved sports and traveled many miles watching his kids, grandkids and great grandkids compete. In his later years, he spent many hours at the Streator Depot watching the trains come through town.

Memorials may be directed to Lazy Acres Club or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.solontelford.com.

To send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene Bednar, please visit our flower store.

Visitation

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church

Tuesday June 27th, 2017

4:00pm - 7:00pm

801 Lundy St
Streator, IL 61364

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