Four Generations of Stecher’s in West Peoria
Joseph Francis and Marie Gertrude (Ober) Stecher immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1913 and 1914 respectively. 
They were married soon after and settled in the Peoria area. While Marie stayed at home to raise the family, Joseph continued his career as a master brewer at Leisey Brewery until prohibition. His strong entrepreneurial ethic eventually led him to open "Stecher's Machine Shop" in 1923. His son, Joseph George Stecher, eventually joined him in the family business. Today, "Stecher's Automotive Service" is run by the founder's grandson, Bob, and great-grandson, Rob.
Another immigrant, James Joseph Cotter, came to this country from County Cork, Ireland, and settled in Bureau County. In 1923, he married Anna Marguerite O'Neill from Tiskilwa. They raised their family on a farm in Tiskilwa that remains in the Cotter family today.
Their daughter, Mary Gertrude, met Joseph George Stecher. They married and settled in Peoria in 1946. They came to West Peoria in 1952 and moved into a home that Joe built on West Laura Avenue. Joe and Mary added eight children (Bill, Pat, Bob, Rick, Jim, Ann, Mark and Tom) to their household through the years.
During the early years of their marriage, Mary was a stay-at-home mother, while Joe worked with his father at "Stecher's Machine Shop". Their oldest son, Bill, was killed in a childhood horse-riding accident in 1958. The remaining Stecher children spent their grade school years at nearby St. Mark School, where Mary was involved in many activities, eventually serving as Sodality President. Even after her children left St. Mark School, she continued her close association with the parish.
Mary and Joe instilled in their children a strong work ethic and a sense of community responsibility. Through the years, the whole family has been involved in various West Peoria organizations, including Scouts, West Peoria City incorporation and the West Peoria Fire Department (WPFD). Bob was part of the advisory committee to select the first mayor and city council of the City of West Peoria.
Perhaps the biggest community contribution from the Stecher clan has been made at the WPFD. Their service started in 1968, when Rick joined the WPFD as a cadet. Through his nine years of service, he attained the rank of Engineer, serving his last four years as an EMT-B. Bob joined the WPFD in 1970. Rick and Bob were two of the original EMTs when the WPFD began that branch of service. Bob has been an EMT-B for 37 years, and has served the last 25 years as Chief of WPFD.
The three remaining Stecher boys, Jim, Mark, and Tom, joined their elder brothers serving their community. Jim has more than 32 years of service on the WPFD, currently serving as Assistant Chief, with 30 years as an EMT-B and EMT-I. Mark is serving as Captain and now has 30 years of service and 12 years as an EMT-B. Rick and Tom eventually left the fire department after relocating outside of West Peoria. When Tom left after seven years, he held the rank of Engineer. He got his start in the EMS field in West Peoria, serving as an EMT-B and EMT-I. He is still an active paramedic in Peoria after 22 years.
Collectively, the five Stecher brothers have dedicated more than 114 years to the WPFD. Additionally, several of them serve on many fire service-related committees and organizations throughout Illinois.
Today, Pat and her husband, Bill, live in East Peoria, as do Tom and his wife, Connie. Ann and her husband, Scott, reside in the Quad Cities. Rick and his wife, Christine, live in Peoria. Bob and Carol, Jim and Mary, and Mark and Kim all still reside in West Peoria.
Joe and Mary's grandchildren continue the spirit of volunteering in their daily lives. Jim's son, Steven, serves as a firefighter-on-leave with the WPFD while pursuing his Masters degree in Fire Science. Bob's son, Rob, has worked his way up to the rank of Captain on the WPFD during his 18 years as a firefighter and EMT-B. Granddaughter, Jessica Bulfer, while living in Madison Manor, still considers herself a "West Peorian." Three of the fifteen grandchildren, Julie Bulfer, Karen Stecher and Rob (with his wife, Nikki) have chosen to continue living in the same community that drew their grandparents to this area. The original Stecher homestead on Laura Avenue, built by Joe, remains in the Stecher family. It is now filled with the laughter of Mary and Joe's great-grandchildren.
They were married soon after and settled in the Peoria area. While Marie stayed at home to raise the family, Joseph continued his career as a master brewer at Leisey Brewery until prohibition. His strong entrepreneurial ethic eventually led him to open "Stecher's Machine Shop" in 1923. His son, Joseph George Stecher, eventually joined him in the family business. Today, "Stecher's Automotive Service" is run by the founder's grandson, Bob, and great-grandson, Rob.
Another immigrant, James Joseph Cotter, came to this country from County Cork, Ireland, and settled in Bureau County. In 1923, he married Anna Marguerite O'Neill from Tiskilwa. They raised their family on a farm in Tiskilwa that remains in the Cotter family today.
Their daughter, Mary Gertrude, met Joseph George Stecher. They married and settled in Peoria in 1946. They came to West Peoria in 1952 and moved into a home that Joe built on West Laura Avenue. Joe and Mary added eight children (Bill, Pat, Bob, Rick, Jim, Ann, Mark and Tom) to their household through the years.
During the early years of their marriage, Mary was a stay-at-home mother, while Joe worked with his father at "Stecher's Machine Shop". Their oldest son, Bill, was killed in a childhood horse-riding accident in 1958. The remaining Stecher children spent their grade school years at nearby St. Mark School, where Mary was involved in many activities, eventually serving as Sodality President. Even after her children left St. Mark School, she continued her close association with the parish.
Mary and Joe instilled in their children a strong work ethic and a sense of community responsibility. Through the years, the whole family has been involved in various West Peoria organizations, including Scouts, West Peoria City incorporation and the West Peoria Fire Department (WPFD). Bob was part of the advisory committee to select the first mayor and city council of the City of West Peoria.
Perhaps the biggest community contribution from the Stecher clan has been made at the WPFD. Their service started in 1968, when Rick joined the WPFD as a cadet. Through his nine years of service, he attained the rank of Engineer, serving his last four years as an EMT-B. Bob joined the WPFD in 1970. Rick and Bob were two of the original EMTs when the WPFD began that branch of service. Bob has been an EMT-B for 37 years, and has served the last 25 years as Chief of WPFD.
The three remaining Stecher boys, Jim, Mark, and Tom, joined their elder brothers serving their community. Jim has more than 32 years of service on the WPFD, currently serving as Assistant Chief, with 30 years as an EMT-B and EMT-I. Mark is serving as Captain and now has 30 years of service and 12 years as an EMT-B. Rick and Tom eventually left the fire department after relocating outside of West Peoria. When Tom left after seven years, he held the rank of Engineer. He got his start in the EMS field in West Peoria, serving as an EMT-B and EMT-I. He is still an active paramedic in Peoria after 22 years.
Collectively, the five Stecher brothers have dedicated more than 114 years to the WPFD. Additionally, several of them serve on many fire service-related committees and organizations throughout Illinois.
Today, Pat and her husband, Bill, live in East Peoria, as do Tom and his wife, Connie. Ann and her husband, Scott, reside in the Quad Cities. Rick and his wife, Christine, live in Peoria. Bob and Carol, Jim and Mary, and Mark and Kim all still reside in West Peoria.
Joe and Mary's grandchildren continue the spirit of volunteering in their daily lives. Jim's son, Steven, serves as a firefighter-on-leave with the WPFD while pursuing his Masters degree in Fire Science. Bob's son, Rob, has worked his way up to the rank of Captain on the WPFD during his 18 years as a firefighter and EMT-B. Granddaughter, Jessica Bulfer, while living in Madison Manor, still considers herself a "West Peorian." Three of the fifteen grandchildren, Julie Bulfer, Karen Stecher and Rob (with his wife, Nikki) have chosen to continue living in the same community that drew their grandparents to this area. The original Stecher homestead on Laura Avenue, built by Joe, remains in the Stecher family. It is now filled with the laughter of Mary and Joe's great-grandchildren.