Kenny "Stretch" Tegeler

1945 - 2025

Kenny "Stretch" Tegeler
Born: November 20, 1945 in Morrison, IL
Died: December 2, 2025 in Fulton, IL
Kenneth "Stretch" Tegeler, 80, of Fulton, formerly Fenton, Illinois passed away on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025 in his home.
Kenny was born on November 20th, 1945 in Morrison, Illinois to Kenneth "Skinner" and Marguerite (Strating) Tegeler. He was the fourth of seven siblings and spent his childhood growing up on a dairy farm. He graduated from Erie High School where he met his high school sweetheart, Gayle (Graham) Tegeler. The two were married on August 27th, 1965 at Fenton Church.
Kenny was the proud father of four boys-Brian, Bret, Shawn and Mitch. There were many afternoons spent playing baseball in the yard where Dad would keep hitting the ball harder to try to make the boys better. Having four boys definitely contributed to his grey hair down the road as he had to be the one to lay down the law after they finally got on Mom's last nerve.
He devoted 30 years of his life to working at John Deere Harvester as an Assembler and was able to retire from there in 1996. He was a hard worker, but when he wasn't working he was traveling the country with his family or playing slow pitch softball. In 1982, he was a member of "The Other Place" team that won the State Championship. Kenny loved animals, flowers and to travel. He and Gayle spent their winters in Florida enjoying the sunshine and friendships made there.
Kenny was soft spoken, but you could always count on him to have a joke ready at any moment. He was admired and respected by all who knew him. Kenny was quick witted and a real handyman with unconventional fixes that somehow always seemed to work.
He was a grandpa (Pops) and a great grandpa to a handful of kids that he adored just as much as they did him. He would do anything for his grandkids. The pool at Grandma and Grandpa's house was the place to be in the summer and every year Pops would say this was the last year for the pool, but every year he would open it back up for the grandkids. He was first up to teach them how to drive, and he and Gayle could always be found at the top of the bleachers at any sporting event cheering on one of the kids or grands.
Kenny is survived by his wife, Gayle Tegeler; sons, Bret (Tracy) Tegeler, Shawn Tegeler and Mitch (Jill) Tegeler; daughter-in-law, Tammy Tegeler; honorary son, Chad (Bre) Clark; siblings, Verna Anderson, Karen (Bob) Sweikar, Deb (Al) Michalik, Roger (Deb) Tegeler; grandchildren, Delaney (Ryon) Richardson, Dillin (Brittney Kruser) Tegeler, Rachel (Ben) Fischl, Levi Tegeler, Isabella and Jackson Tegeler; great grandchildren, Josie, Norah and Beau Fischl and Adalea Richardson; honorary grandchildren, Brody and Colton Clark and Abigayle and Karynna Schersand and countless nieces, nephews and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Marguerite Tegeler; son, Brian Tegeler; and sisters, Wilma and Mary Tegeler.
A visitation will be held on Monday, December 8th at Gibson-Bode Funeral Home in Erie, Illinois from 4-7pm. A funeral service take place at New Life Church in Fenton, Illinois on Tuesday, December 9th at 11am with a luncheon to follow. A private burial will be held at a later date.
Memorials can be made to QC Paws in Moline and Ronald McDonald house.