Lela Hamilton

1929 - 2026

Atwood - Lela June (Lewis) Hamilton of Bement, formerly of Atwood, died Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

She was born June 30, 1929, in Wever, Iowa, to Harry Edgar Lewis Sr. and Avis Lela (Sheppard) Lewis. She was the youngest of seven children: Roy, Sherley, Harry, Dean, Dorothy and Verna. Her parents and siblings preceded her in death. She graduated from Lockridge High School and attended Iowa State University. She was employed by the John Morrell packing plant in Ottumwa, Iowa. She later moved to Lovington and worked for a contractor during the construction of the USI Chemical Plant in Tuscola.

During that time, she met her husband, Earl Olan Hamilton. They were married in Arthur on July 2, 1954. He preceded her in death 66 years after their wedding. They lived in Atwood for most of their lives. They had two daughters, Linda (Tom) Kowal of Denver and Barbara Stiehl of Urbana. Her son-in-law, Robert Stiehl, preceded her in death.

Mrs. Hamilton has four granddaughters: Janelle (Isaac) Nelson-Gardner, Jessica Kowal, Emily Stiehl (Brian Ziebart) and Melanie (David) Rosin. She has five great-grandchildren: Beckett Nelson-Gardner, Lydia Nelson-Gardner, Zachary Rosin, Theodore Ziebart and Sophie Ziebart; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Hamilton enjoyed gardening and shared much of what she grew with family, friends and neighbors. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed knitting and crocheting.

She was a member of Atwood American Legion Auxiliary Unit 440.

Visitation will be at Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 66 E. U.S. 36, Atwood, IL 61913, on Saturday, Jan. 17, at 10 a.m. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. following the visitation. Interment will follow at Mackville Cemetery, 1488 East 100 North Road, Atwood, IL 61913.

Memorials may be sent to Atwood American Legion Auxiliary Unit 440, the American Diabetes Foundation, the American Heart Association or Special Olympics-Illinois.

Online condolences may be shared at hilligossshraderfh.com.