Steve Lee Wunderle

Steven Lee Wunderle, 83, of Carterville, passed away Thursday, August 1, 2024, at his home, surrounded by his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 5, 2024, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carterville, with Fr. Nick Fleming officiating. Burial will be in Willowrest Cemetery in Carterville. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, August 4, 2024, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville.

Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Ducks Unlimited.

Steve was born July 29, 1941, in Macomb, Illinois, to Steven Price and Ellen Marie (Lemme) Wunderle. He married Sharon Lee Swinford on February 24, 1963, in Charleston, Illinois. Together they shared 61 wonderful years.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Wunderle; daughters, Kristin (Jason) Chancey and Karin Morris; grandchildren, Jake Morris, Connor Chancey, and Sydney Chancey; brother, Terry (Jeanne) Wunderle.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents.

Steve graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Zoology and later obtained a Masters’ Degree in Biological Science from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. He had been an Instructor at SIUC from 1969-1973. After his time at SIUC, he was the Associate Dean of Adult Education at John A. Logan College for 23 years. 

Steve’s love of the outdoors was an all-encompassing part of his life. He was passionate about daylilies and bred over 700 different varieties under the name “Shawnee Daylilies”. Steve has had 10 daylilies registered in the National Hemerocallis Society.  

In 1992, Steve was awarded Illinois Sportsman of the Year. His lifelong love of hunting and fishing made him the ideal recipient for this honor.

Steve has written four fishing books, one fishing cookbook, and one children’s book published under the name Wunderle Outdoor Books. In addition, he wrote numerous articles and took photographs for hunting and fishing magazines like “Field and Stream”.

Bird photography gave Steve more time to enjoy the peace and serenity of nature. Many framed photos of his favorite waterfowl and songbirds decorate the Wunderle home.

His philosophy was you only go around in this life once so grab as much of it as you can!

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