Zola B. Sturgill

Zola B. Sturgill

(January 15, 1924 – June 22, 2023)

Zola B. (Koehler) Sturgill , 99, of Shelbyville, IL, formerly of Vandalia, IL, passed away at 2:10 p.m. Thursday, June 22, 2023 in Hickory Estates Memory Care, Pana, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, June 26, 2023 in Howe & Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL. Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Monday in the funeral home. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday in Fairlawn Cemetery, Vandalia, IL. Memorials may be given to Hickory Estates Memory Care, Pana, IL and mailed to Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, 415 N. Broadway, Shelbyville, IL 62565.

Zola was born on January 15, 1924 in Cowden, IL, the daughter of Trove Gilbert and Zula Caroline (Stockdale) Roberts. She married Evert Keith Koehler on March 19, 1942 and he preceded her in death on February 4, 1975. Zola worked for the Crane Packing Company in Vandalia, IL for many years.  She later married Richard Preston Sturgill on May 4, 1979 and he preceded her in death on August 26, 2001. Richard and Zola retired and moved to Shelbyville in 1996.  Zola enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, baking coconut cream pies, and walking on the General Dacey Trail.   She was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. Zola dearly loved her family and was affectionately known to them as “Gram”, “Z.B.” and “Gramcracker”.

Zola is survived by her daughter-in-law, Shelley Koehler of Shelbyville, IL; three grandchildren, Wendy (Jerry) Yockey, Brett (Amy) Koehler and Kris (Lia) Koehler all of Shelbyville; four great grandchildren, Molly (Levi) Pruemer, Maggy (Lucas) Prather, and Tanner and Tessa Koehler all of Shelbyville; two great-great grandchildren, Essy Jo and Wynn Gary Pruemer; brother, James (Jean) Roberts of Greenville, IL; and sister, Marion (Phillip) Shroyer of Vandalia, IL.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Evert & Richard; son, Ronald Keith Koehler; sisters, Lorenne (Hank) Girdick, Letha Roberts; brothers, Carl (Verna) Roberts, Warren (Betty) Roberts, Dean (Pat) Roberts, Larry Roberts, and Jackie Roberts.

A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Hickory Estates Memory Care in Pana for their loving care of Gram.