November
13,
1931
13,
1931
September
16,
2022
16,
2022
Richard (Dick) Scott Underwood of Somonauk, IL
Dick Underwood passed away peacefully on September 16, 2022. He was born on November 13, 1931, in Macomb, Illinois, the son of G.F. and Dorothy Scott Underwood. He married Annabelle (Ann) Olinger on August 20, 1953, in Galesburg, Illinois. He attended school in Industry, Illinois, until moving to Macomb in 1947 where he graduated from Macomb High School in 1949. Dick graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in 1953, where he was a member of the basketball and football teams. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict as a Lieutenant JG on board the USS Laws DD 558, from 1953 to 1955. He later received a master’s degree in Education from Northern Illinois University in 1961.
Dick was a coach and teacher at Leland Illinois High School from 1955 to 1959 and at Sandwich Illinois High School from 1959 to 1963. In 1963, he became Superintendent of Schools in Somonauk, Illinois, and served in that capacity for 24 years until retiring in 1987. He was later employed by the Farmers State Bank and First National Bank in Somonauk, Millbrook, and Newark until 2005.
Dick was a member of the UCC Congregational Church and active on many church committees. He served as a fireman with the Somonauk Fire Department for many years and was a member of many community organizations including the Sandwich Moose, Leland Masonic Lodge, American Legion and Somonauk Lions Club. He served on the DeKalb County Board from 1988 through 2000 and was Chairman of the DeKalb County Board in 1994 and 1995.
He also served as a Board member on the Kishwaukee Health Foundation, the DeKalb County Community Foundation, and the DeKalb County Crime Stoppers. He was a football referee for high school and colleges for 32 years from 1965 through 1997, and coached his sons’ Pony League, Babe Ruth League, and American Legion baseball teams.
Dick loved being an educator and getting to know the hundreds of students in the Somonauk schools by name. He said at his retirement, “If there is one thing that has let me remain as superintendent for all these years, it’s been that I know the kids we serve, not as numbers, but as individuals. Each kid is unique, each is different. I just hope that I have given this community as much as it has given me. If I have, then I’m satisfied with what I’ve done.”
Whether at school, church, athletic field, or in the community, Dick was known for his passion and love for family and people. His generosity, empathy, patience, kindness, and energy led him to be a mentor, friend, and confidant.
Dick is survived by three sons and their wives: Jeff (Christie) Underwood of Lake in the Hills, Illinois, Mark (Silvia) Underwood of Homewood, Illinois, and Curt (Laurie) Underwood of McHenry, Illinois. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Eric Underwood, Ryan (Elizabeth) Underwood, Tyler (Brittany) Underwood, Jessica (Eric) Reinert, Jennifer Underwood, Brad Underwood, John Underwood and one great grandchild Annabelle Underwood. Other survivors include sister-in-law Marilyn Olinger of Abingdon and stepsister Millie (Ed) Hunt of Blandinsville.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years Annabelle Underwood, his parents, stepmother Virginia Underwood, sister Marilyn (Bud) James, brother-in-law Stanley (Marie) Olinger, and sister-in-law Martha Spencer.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with a one-hour visitation prior to service at UCC Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, with Rev. Theodore Engelsdorfer officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Sandwich. Memorials may be directed to UCC Union Congregational Church, Somonauk Education Foundation, or the Open Door in Sandwich. For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. Rt 34 ~ P.O. Box 404
Somonauk, IL 60552
(815) 498-2363
Dick Underwood passed away peacefully on September 16, 2022. He was born on November 13, 1931, in Macomb, Illinois, the son of G.F. and Dorothy Scott Underwood. He married Annabelle (Ann) Olinger on August 20, 1953, in Galesburg, Illinois. He attended school in Industry, Illinois, until moving to Macomb in 1947 where he graduated from Macomb High School in 1949. Dick graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor’s degree in 1953, where he was a member of the basketball and football teams. After graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict as a Lieutenant JG on board the USS Laws DD 558, from 1953 to 1955. He later received a master’s degree in Education from Northern Illinois University in 1961.
Dick was a coach and teacher at Leland Illinois High School from 1955 to 1959 and at Sandwich Illinois High School from 1959 to 1963. In 1963, he became Superintendent of Schools in Somonauk, Illinois, and served in that capacity for 24 years until retiring in 1987. He was later employed by the Farmers State Bank and First National Bank in Somonauk, Millbrook, and Newark until 2005.
Dick was a member of the UCC Congregational Church and active on many church committees. He served as a fireman with the Somonauk Fire Department for many years and was a member of many community organizations including the Sandwich Moose, Leland Masonic Lodge, American Legion and Somonauk Lions Club. He served on the DeKalb County Board from 1988 through 2000 and was Chairman of the DeKalb County Board in 1994 and 1995.
He also served as a Board member on the Kishwaukee Health Foundation, the DeKalb County Community Foundation, and the DeKalb County Crime Stoppers. He was a football referee for high school and colleges for 32 years from 1965 through 1997, and coached his sons’ Pony League, Babe Ruth League, and American Legion baseball teams.
Dick loved being an educator and getting to know the hundreds of students in the Somonauk schools by name. He said at his retirement, “If there is one thing that has let me remain as superintendent for all these years, it’s been that I know the kids we serve, not as numbers, but as individuals. Each kid is unique, each is different. I just hope that I have given this community as much as it has given me. If I have, then I’m satisfied with what I’ve done.”
Whether at school, church, athletic field, or in the community, Dick was known for his passion and love for family and people. His generosity, empathy, patience, kindness, and energy led him to be a mentor, friend, and confidant.
Dick is survived by three sons and their wives: Jeff (Christie) Underwood of Lake in the Hills, Illinois, Mark (Silvia) Underwood of Homewood, Illinois, and Curt (Laurie) Underwood of McHenry, Illinois. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Eric Underwood, Ryan (Elizabeth) Underwood, Tyler (Brittany) Underwood, Jessica (Eric) Reinert, Jennifer Underwood, Brad Underwood, John Underwood and one great grandchild Annabelle Underwood. Other survivors include sister-in-law Marilyn Olinger of Abingdon and stepsister Millie (Ed) Hunt of Blandinsville.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years Annabelle Underwood, his parents, stepmother Virginia Underwood, sister Marilyn (Bud) James, brother-in-law Stanley (Marie) Olinger, and sister-in-law Martha Spencer.
Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2022 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. with a one-hour visitation prior to service at UCC Union Congregational Church in Somonauk, with Rev. Theodore Engelsdorfer officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Sandwich. Memorials may be directed to UCC Union Congregational Church, Somonauk Education Foundation, or the Open Door in Sandwich. For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com
Turner-Eighner Funeral Home
13160 W. Rt 34 ~ P.O. Box 404
Somonauk, IL 60552
(815) 498-2363
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