Robert Charles Stiff, 97, of Olney died Thursday August 22, 2013.

Robert, son of John and Hattie (Hoover) Stiff, was born February 27, 1916, near Dundas, Illinois. He attended Dundas Grade School, Newton and Olney High Schools, graduating in May of 1933. After graduation he farmed on the family farm until April 13, 1941, when was called into active duty in the U.S. Army.

His basic training was at Camp Forest, Tennessee, followed by Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. Upon completion of the initial part of his training, 2nd Lieutenant Robert Stiff continued his training at Fort Crook, Nebraska’s Motor Vehicle School and then on to Texas in preparation for overseas duty. On January 1, 1944, he left for duty in the Pacific Theatre spending time at Bougainville and east of Manila, the Philippines, where his company was responsible for setting up water supply centers for the troops. He served there until November of 1945 at which time Captain Stiff returned to the United States. Bob was reunited with Eileen Kermicle Stiff whom he had married on September 3, 1942, after he completed OCS.

The couple returned to the family farm east of Dundas where they raised two sons, milked Jersey cattle, produced row crops, and eventually feeder hogs. He retired from farming in 1986. In November of 1993, Bob and Eileen moved to Olney. Robert was a member of the Dundas Methodist Church until it closed in 1973 when he transferred membership to Immanuel Methodist Church in Olney. He was a 4H leader, a charter member of the Dundas Ruritan, serving as an officer of the board a number of times, and also served on the Richland County Fair Board. Bob and Eileen were avid genealogy researchers and much of their work was compiled in book form for their families. It has been transferred onto Ancestry.com.

He is survived by his wife, Eileen, a son, Michael Stiff of Savoy, Illinois, one grandson, Jason Stiff of Pawnee, Illinois, and four great grand children. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Elbert and Eugene Stiff, a son, Edward Stiff and a grandson, Brian Stiff.

Burial in Crest Haven Cemetery, Claremont, Illinois.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)