Robert J. Pedelty

  Robert (Bob) Joseph Pedelty passed away on November 9, 2022 with his family by his side.

  Funeral services will be at 12:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 16th at the Solon-Telford Funeral Home, Streator. 

  Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until 12:00 P.M. Wednesday, November 16th at the funeral home.

  Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Streator.   Pallbearers will be Spencer and Travis McDonald, Kevin and Brendan Conner, Brad and Ryan Verdun, Eric Metelka and Tim Abdnour.  

  Bob was a man who loved his family deeply which included his 3 daughters; Sharon (Spencer) McDonald, Barbara (Kevin) Conner, and Judy (Brad) Verdun and 6 grandchildren; Tonya (Ryan Dilley) Stillwell, Travis (Kelly) McDonald, Brendan (Shanon Wilkinson) Conner, Amber (Eric) Metelka, Ryan (Megan Murray) Verdun and Kirsten (Laura Trout) Verdun, and his 6 great-grandchildren; Treyton Stillwell, Myah Stillwell, Spencer McDonald, Charlotte McDonald, Abram Metelka, and Lucille Metelka.  He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Maryann Pedelty, and many nieces and nephews whom he was also very proud of.

  Bob was born on January 22nd, 1933, at the end of the Great Depression to Robert and Lucile Pedelty in Streator, Illinois. He grew up in Streator with his sister Joann (Pedelty) Ferron and his brother John (Jack) Pedelty, both of whom predeceased Bob.  Bob lost his parents in a car accident at the age of 3.  The three Pedelty children then lived with their paternal grandfather Robert Pedelty and his father’s sisters, Josephine Loughridge and Doris Zelenak, and with their maternal grandparents, Thomas and Johanna Langan.

  Bob graduated from St. Mary’s Grade School and Streator High School.  At Streator High School Bob found his love of cars which gave him his great mechanical ability. He went to work for Andy Palko at Palko’s Gas Station.  He also fell in love with a young lady by the name of Marilyn Baker.  Bob and Marilyn married on September 11, 1955.  Bob continued to work at Palko’s but began assisting his in-laws, LaVerne and Nathella Baker, farming their farmland in Ransom, Illinois.  Before you knew it, Bob was farming full time and had purchased more of his own farmland.  Bob and Marilyn also found a winter home in Naples, Florida and built many long lasting friendships in Naples over the twenty years they wintered there.

  Bob served the community of Ransom in many different roles.  Among them was his service to the Ransom Grade School Board of Education from 1965 until 1979 as a board member.  Bob served as a volunteer fireman on the Allen Township Fire Department for many years.  He also served on the Board of the Allen and Otter Creek Insurance Company.  For several years, Bob would rise early and open Jerry’s Tap in Ransom for all of his neighbors to come in and have a cup of coffee before they started their days.  Bob was also a member of the Ransom United Methodist Church and the Streator Elk’s Club for almost 50 years. 

  Every farmer puts his land to rest for the winter. On spring’s horizon it is brought back to life. God has granted this farmer rest, and with a spring in his step he will walk the horizon to a new life where he will be with his heavenly Father and all of his family and friends that have gone before him and he has missed dearly.

  Memorials may be given to the Allen Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Ransom United Methodist Church or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

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