thedrifter
11-06-07, 05:34 AM
20-year-old Marine from Downers Grove laid to rest
November 6, 2007
By Eva McKendrick Staff Writer
Cpl. Joseph E. Stevenson III of Downers Grove always dreamed of becoming a Marine. On Oct. 28, the 20-year-old died as a Marine.
"He did everything he could to get there (the Marines)," said his older sister, Lindsey Stevenson, at his funeral Nov. 5. "And we're so proud of him because he did it."
Stevenson was stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was undergoing reconnaissance training. The cause of death is pending results of an autopsy, officials said.
About 200 people attended the funeral service at St. Joseph Parish in Downers Grove, including his parents, Joseph E. Stevenson Jr. and Barbara Ann Stamper-Stevenson, who is a math teacher at Lisle Senior High School.
Stevenson had entered active duty in August 2005, serving one tour of duty in Iraq.
Lindsey said that when her brother was a child, he feared something bad would happen to him. When he wasn't completely reassured by his mother's advice to run to the neighbors' home if someone broke into the house, he was told by her that she would die before letting anything bad happen to him.
"One day it went from us protecting Joe to Joe protecting us," Lindsey said.
His family said he lived by the Marine Corps motto, "Semper fidelis," which is Latin for "always faithful."
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn attended the funeral, at which Stevenson was given full military honors, and said the Marine embodied the Latin phrase for his faithfulness to his country, the Marine Corps, his family and God.
"We have to bury a hero today," Quinn said.
Stevenson attended school at Belle Aire Elementary, Herrick Middle School and Downers Grove North High School. According to a statement from the Stevenson family, he was a coach for three years for the Orchard Brook swim team and a member of the Downers Grove swim team for three years. He enjoyed mountain biking, kayaking, boogie boarding, running and fishing, and did a "mean" Forrest Gump imitation.
Stevenson is survived by his parents and sister and by his grandmothers, Dorothy L. Stevenson and Mafalda Stamper of Kankakee.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Joseph Stevenson and John W. Stamper.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Fisher House Foundation, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 600, Rockville, MD 20852; or Operation Support Our Troops Illinois, 1807 S. Washington St., Suite 110, No. 359, Naperville, IL 60565.
Contact Eva McKendrick at emckendrick@scn1.com or 630-416-5103.
Ellie
November 6, 2007
By Eva McKendrick Staff Writer
Cpl. Joseph E. Stevenson III of Downers Grove always dreamed of becoming a Marine. On Oct. 28, the 20-year-old died as a Marine.
"He did everything he could to get there (the Marines)," said his older sister, Lindsey Stevenson, at his funeral Nov. 5. "And we're so proud of him because he did it."
Stevenson was stationed in Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was undergoing reconnaissance training. The cause of death is pending results of an autopsy, officials said.
About 200 people attended the funeral service at St. Joseph Parish in Downers Grove, including his parents, Joseph E. Stevenson Jr. and Barbara Ann Stamper-Stevenson, who is a math teacher at Lisle Senior High School.
Stevenson had entered active duty in August 2005, serving one tour of duty in Iraq.
Lindsey said that when her brother was a child, he feared something bad would happen to him. When he wasn't completely reassured by his mother's advice to run to the neighbors' home if someone broke into the house, he was told by her that she would die before letting anything bad happen to him.
"One day it went from us protecting Joe to Joe protecting us," Lindsey said.
His family said he lived by the Marine Corps motto, "Semper fidelis," which is Latin for "always faithful."
Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn attended the funeral, at which Stevenson was given full military honors, and said the Marine embodied the Latin phrase for his faithfulness to his country, the Marine Corps, his family and God.
"We have to bury a hero today," Quinn said.
Stevenson attended school at Belle Aire Elementary, Herrick Middle School and Downers Grove North High School. According to a statement from the Stevenson family, he was a coach for three years for the Orchard Brook swim team and a member of the Downers Grove swim team for three years. He enjoyed mountain biking, kayaking, boogie boarding, running and fishing, and did a "mean" Forrest Gump imitation.
Stevenson is survived by his parents and sister and by his grandmothers, Dorothy L. Stevenson and Mafalda Stamper of Kankakee.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Joseph Stevenson and John W. Stamper.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Fisher House Foundation, 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 600, Rockville, MD 20852; or Operation Support Our Troops Illinois, 1807 S. Washington St., Suite 110, No. 359, Naperville, IL 60565.
Contact Eva McKendrick at emckendrick@scn1.com or 630-416-5103.
Ellie