Mr. Randy Charles “Stew” Steward, age 65, of Lafayette, GA, died Monday, March 3,2025 at CHI Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, TN.

There will be a Celebration of Life on March 29th from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Frentress Lake Marina Bar and Grill (formerly the Silver Eagle Event Center). 818 Gill Road, East Dubuque, IL 61025. Online condolences may be left at www.leonardfuneralhome.com

Randy “Stew” was born September 24th, 1959, in Dewitt, Iowa, son of the late Larry Guy Steward and Sandra June “Sandy” Baker Sommers. He concluded over 40 years of service as a wrestling coach and teacher, most recently at Trion High School.

Randy has many coaching accolades, being named Coach of the Year on multiple occasions. He was inducted into several Hall of Fames, including the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, Georgia chapter, Loras College Hall of Fame, Central Dewitt High School Hall of Fame, the Georgia High School Wrestling Hall of Fame, and N.W.C.A. Hall of Fame. Randy also sat on many boards. He was truly a Steward of life.

His family will remember him with great love. He was the type of person who would help anyone. He valued hard work, honesty and value of a man’s word. To his children he was loving but fair. He made sure to instill his values on them as well as the importance of family and being there for each other. To his wife, he was loving and caring and always made sure she was taken care of. His devotion to her was unwavering, and his kindness and support were a constant source of comfort. He was an alpha male and loved to prove it. He loved music and he died a happy man.

Randy’s favorite things in life were wrestling, his family and his dogs (Zoey, Stella, Remy, Phoenix, and Josie). He loved water activities, and putzing around the yard with the dogs, and being outdoors. He was living out his dream, on his recent property, and will always be remembered.

It’s not often that a man has the opportunity to impact the lives of so many young men, but he did so with passion and dedication. He not only mentored and guided them but also took great joy in staying connected with them long after their paths first crossed. His influence was lasting, and his presence will be deeply missed.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Marty Steward, an uncle, Rick Ehrler, lifelong friend, Rob McReynolds and his beloved dog, Dixie.

Those left to cherish his memories…

His wife, Lori Duggan Steward, son, Jake Randall Steward (Hailee Peardon), daughter Helen Mae Steward; granddaughter, Hattie Rae Steward; brother, Tony (Donna) Steward, sister Tammi (Jim) Jaeger; stepchildren, Emily (Jim) Roling, Eric (Lindsey) Behnke, Liz (Chris) Brewer, Evan (Sarah) Behnke, Ellen (Quentin) Mensen and step grandchildren, Maddie Roling, Amelia Taylor, Paige and Hannah Behnke, Taylor, Drake and Sophia Brewer, Liam Behnke, Logan Mensen, and many nieces and nephews, also with the wrestling community who became Sons of Stew.