STEELEVILLE – Dennis S. "Steve" Ramsey, April 2, 1946 – September 26, 2025, formerly of Steeleville, IL, finally laid his burden down at his home on Friday, September 26, 2025, in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Steve leaves behind the love of his life and wife of sixty years, Karen (Melville) Ramsey, his son, Rusty (w. Sonya Garza) Ramsey of Plano, TX, his daughters, Adhanet Tesfayohannes (w. Meron Amanuel) of Peoria, IL, and Stephanie Ramsey of Maroa, IL. Steve leaves four grandchildren: Blake Ramsey of Garland, TX, Logan and Taylor Ramsey of Plano, TX, and Gabrielle "Gabe" Amanuel of Peoria, IL. He also leaves behind three great grandchildren, Glenn, Sawyer, and Harley Ramsey of Garland, TX, many beloved nieces and nephews, and a sister, Janice.

Steve was preceded in death by his father and mother, Russell "Ducky" and Janetta (nee Killgrove) Ramsey, formerly of Clarmin, IL, his brother, Thomas (w. June) Ramsey of Zephyrhills, FL, and his sisters: Sonia (nee Ramsey) and Nancy (nee Ramsey) Burrows of Sparta, IL. He was also preceded in death by his dearest friends, Larry "Sonny" Diamond, Wendell Shook of Clarmin, IL, and Dennis "Toby" Welty of Willisville, IL.

Steve was able to design, build, or fix almost anything. He enjoyed playing homemade flutes, making woodworking projects, and puttering around for improvements on everyday things. Steve retired as a Master Electrician from BS#4 Consol, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War Era (spending a fascinating time in Ethiopia), was a Mason, and was a HAM radio operator since 1963, attaining his final call sign: K9SR.

Steve was educated in a one-room schoolhouse, where he read the entire set of the Encyclopedia Britannica and discovered his favorite book, "The Wahoo Bobcat" by Joseph Whaton Lippincott. It is his passion for learning that makes him best known as an avid autodidact. Steve also earned a scuba diving certification and got to see beautiful underwater worlds. He earned a pilot's license and enjoyed taking friends and family around Southern Illinois and Missouri, occasionally popping into Lambert's for a "throwed roll". Steve enjoyed his regular travels to Hawaii, Greece, Turkey, Mexico, and the Caribbean. He loved the ocean.

Steve enjoyed the hard sciences and considered himself lucky to be able to watch the SPACEX launches from his front yard. He loved biscuits and gravy, hot Lipton tea, vanilla saltwater taffy, caramels, jazz music, coconut cream pie, Mexican and Eritrean food, MMA, telling humorous stories, and aggravating the tar out of anyone who would put up with it. Steve would help anyone with anything – from teaching Morse code to fixing TV sets – but wouldn't put up with any nonsense other than his own.

A Graveside viewing and ceremony will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, 10:30 am, at Percy Village Cemetery, located at the intersection of West Chestnut Street and Coleman Lane in Percy, IL. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to St. Jude Children's Hospital and can be mailed to Wilson's Funeral Home, P.O. Box 217, Steeleville, IL 62288.