Dewane "Dewey" Steele, 86, of Rock Island, IL passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024.

Services for Dewey will be 12 pm, Thursday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island. Visitation will be from 10 am until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery, where military honors will be conducted. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Rock Island Booster Club or to the Mercer Co. Animal Shelter. After a tough fight with cancer, Dewey died peacefully at home at the side of his beloved wife, Carol. ‍Dewane, fondly known as Dewey, was born to Henry and Florence Steele, on November 20th, 1937, in Rock Island, IL. Dewey graduated from Rock Island High School in 1955. That same year he began a four-year stint with the US Air Force. Upon separation from the military, he started a career with Illinois Bell as a telephone installer repairman. In 1970 Dewey was promoted to management and transferred to AT&T after the divestiture in 1985. He retired from AT&T in 1988.

Dewey married Carol Schmidt Lowry April 7th, 1979. Dewey is survived by his wife, Carol, five children, Beth (Jeff) Friichtenicht, Brenda (Shawn) Herman, Diana Steele Meador, Danny (Dusky), and Darrin (Sothy), 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Above all things, he valued his family and friends. He was a hilarious storyteller and will be remembered for his famously kind heart. He was a lifelong fan of the Chicago Cubs and Bears, and Rock Island High School sports. In his later years, he was able to enjoy time working at Highland Springs Golf Course and would often say how he loved "watching the golf course wake up".

Dewey held many roles in his life, from Air Force veteran to telephone company supervisor, but his favorite three roles were being a husband, father, and grandfather. He loved nothing more than spending time with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Dewey was preceded in death by his parents, Florence, and Henry; and sisters, Wanda Johnson, and Marylou Hartsock. We can't thank Dr. Constantino, the nurses and staff at UnityPoint Hospice enough for the loving care they gave to him.