Paul H. Stewart, 81, of Galesburg, passed away Sunday, April 17, 2022, at OSF St. Mary Medical Center, Galesburg, Illinois.
Born in Galesburg, Illinois the younger son of Ray Maxwell Stewart and Pauline Fifield Stewart, he attended St. Joseph’s Academy and Corpus Christi High School in Galesburg, graduating in June 1959. He received a B.S. Degree in 1963 and a master’s degree in Social Work in 1965 from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. He was employed as a school social worker in the Aurora East Public School District for 29 years from 1965 to 1994.
While living in Aurora, Illinois, Paul was once elected to the Aurora Township Board from 1977 to 1980, served as chairman of the near southeast side neighborhood organization for 20 years, and served on the city of Aurora’s zoning board of appeals, planning commission, housing authority, and preservation commission.
Paul was preceded in death by his father on June 13, 1969, his mother on August 26, 2003, and his only brother William “Billy” Stewart on October 21, 1957, as a result of a tragic accident.
Returning to Galesburg, Illinois in 2003 following the death of his mother, Paul was appointed to the Knox County Board in 2005 and was elected in 2006 and again in 2010. He also served as a member and chairman of the City of Galesburg’s Landmark Commission and was a member of the Knox County Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.
One of Paul’s most cherished memories was attending his alma mater Loyola University (Chicago) men’s basketball NCAA championship game in Louisville, Kentucky in 1963 which they won. Most recently. Paul was also able to attend Loyola’s 2018 NCAA games in Dallas and San Antonio, Texas including the final four.
Visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, 2022, at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg, with the funeral service following at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Galesburg. Memorials may be made to Loyola University (Chicago), Corpus Christi Catholic Church, of the Sisters of Providence, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana 47876. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
