Stephen Lynn Ladage

Stephen Lynn Ladage, 74, of Waverly peacefully entered his Father’s Kingdom of Heaven the morning of Sunday, March 3.  Steve was born July 10, 1949, to Russell and Geraldine (Aubrey) Ladage. 

After graduating from Waverly High School in 1967, Steve voluntarily enlisted with the US Army where he went on to serve three tours in Vietnam between July 1968 and October 1970.  Upon his return from military service, Steve stayed in the Waverly area and worked as a truck driver and then a carpenter while continuing to help his father’s farming operation. 

He married Lynn Rector on Sept 4, 1976, in Waverly and they had two children.  After his father’s passing, Steve began farming full time, a job he loved and continued until his death.  He also served the citizens of Talkington Township for 36 years in a variety of roles including highway commissioner and board member until 2021.

Steve was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn and a proud supporter of the church’s veteran outreach program.  In his off-time from farming he enjoyed travelling.  He loved to share stories of seeing the bald eagles in Alaska to getting bitten by a lion (cub) in South Africa; from visiting the farm fields in South America to the humbling tour of the D-Day beaches in Normandy.

Steve is survived by his wife, Lynn; children, Gregory Ladage and Denise (Jose) Figueroa; three grandsons, Quentin Rachford, Stephen Rachford, and Alejandro Figueroa; one bonus granddaughter, Katherine Figueroa; and brother Terry (Janet) Ladage.

Cremation rites have been accorded.

Visitation will be on Friday, March 15, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1201 West Jackson Street, Auburn, Illinois.

Funeral services will take place at the church on Saturday, March 16, beginning at 11:00 am.  Inurnment with military honors will take place at Waverly East Cemetery following.

Memorial donations may be made to the Land of Lincoln Honor Flight (57 Country Place, Springfield, IL 62703) or to the Wounded Warrior Project.

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