Kermit Stenger was at this post in our composing room Monday night, helping to print Tuesday morning's Star. On Tuesday afternoon, he died of a heart attack. All of us in the News Tower who had known "Kerm" for many years knew that he would have wanted his personal history to close with that kind of quick ending. He had fought his way through serious illness; and he had always returned to his composing-room chores, which he performed with a skilled hand.

Of his 49 years, 33 had been spent in newspaper composing rooms. For three decades, he had worked with only a few interruptions in The Morning Star's composing room. His wife is a member of our newspaper family, serving The Star as night switchboard operator. Their older son is a linotype operator for the Star.

Kerm was strongly individualistic; he had a quick, original humor and an alert, swiftly appraising eye for absurdity and sham. And he had the gifts of a genuine craftsman. We shall miss him.  [offered by Thelma Thomas Livingston/Carole Ann Heller]

The Rev. Harold L. Christenson, pastor of Temple Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial gardens. Friends may call in the funeral home from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday

Mr. Stenger suffered a heart attack in his home and was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Anthony hospital t 2:55 p.m. Tuesday. A Morning Star printer since 1928, Mr. Stenger's death come unexpectedly, although he had undergone several operations in the last three years for heart and kidney ailments. He had worked Monday night.

Mr. Stenger joined the Rockford Register-Gazette as a composing room apprentice in 1925 after graduating from Rockford high school.

Mrs. Stenger joined The Morning Star in 1928 and had been a printer for The Morning Star almost continuously since that time

An avid gardener, he cultivated his own flower garden in the family's large back yard.

He was a lifelong Rockford resident and attended Temple Baptist church many years.

He was born April 4, 1909, son of Charles E. and Eva Stenger, pioneer Rockford area residents.

His widow, the former Mildred Mathews, has been a Morning Star switchboard operation for 17 years. A son, Rodney, has been employed by the Morning Star for nine years and now is a linotype operator.

Mrs. and Mrs. Stenger were married in Hebron Aug. 27, 1829. He was a member of Rockford local 213, International Typographical union.

Surviving in addition to his widow and son are another son, Donald, New Milford; a daughter, Mrs. Betty Johnson, Rockford, four grandchildren, Pamela and Deborah Stenger and Danny and Terry Johnson, Rockford; and three brothers, Herbert, Kenneth and Randal, Rockford. [offered by Thelma Thomas Livingston/Carole Ann Heller]