Steve Szczeblewski, 88, of Mulkeytown, passed away at 8:15 A.M., Tuesday, January 4, 2005 at his residence.
Steve was a retired coal miner and had worked at Old Ben 21 Mine, Majestic Mine, DuBois Mine and Waltonville Mine.  He was also a farmer and had been an avid horse trader for over seventy years.  He was a member of UMW of A Local 1487.
He was born December 24, 1916 at Radom, IL, the son of Leonard and Cecilia (Nickrant) Szczeblewski Jr.
He married Velma Ann Haycraft on March 27, 1940 at Cape Girardeau, MO and she preceded him in death on December 17, 1981.  He then married Shirley Williams on September 30, 1998 at Paducah, KY and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Mulkeytown, three sons - Richard Szczeblewski and wife Pat of Mulkeytown, Charles "Chuck" Szczeblewski and wife Sharon of Palymera, IL, and R. Wayne Szczeblewski and wife Brenda of Mulkeytown, four sisters - Anna Gestinschloget of Tamaroa, Adeline Pierson of Indiana, Lorina Novakowski of Pinckneyville, and Rita Luetkemeyer of St. Louis, MO, three brothers - Sylvester Szczeblewski of Du Quoin, Robert "Bob" Szczeblewski of Sesser and Albert Szczeblewski of St. Louis, six grandchildren - Tracey Vandekerkhove and Mike, Jamie Donovan and Jeff, Steven Szczeblewski and Debra, Kevin Szczeblewski, Brandy Szczeblewski, and Joshua Szczeblewski, and five great grandchildren - Stormi Donovan, Shad Donovan, Ty Vandekerkhove, Treg Vandekerkhove, and Remy Vandekerkhove.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, two sisters - Helen Malinski and Bonnie Szczeblewski, one brother - Carl J. Szczeblewski and one grandson - Andrew Szczeblewski.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 P.M., Friday, January 7, 2005 at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin with Rev. Carl Mesiti officiating.
Friends may call from 4 to 9 P.M., Thursday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin.
Interment will be in the Sunset Memorial Park at Du Quoin.
Friends may make memorials to the St. Jude's Childrens Hospital and will be accepted at the funeral home.

