Harry John Sterling 1945-2023
Harry John Sterling, of Lexington, Kentucky, passed peacefully at his home surrounded by family on January 3, 2023.
Harry was born on July 8, 1945 in Belleville, Illinois to Harriet (née Zerweck) and John Sterling. An Eagle Scout, he lived out their values (trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, curiosity, kindness, obedience, cheer, thriftiness, courage and reverence) throughout his life. He was a member of the Order of DeMolay, and a recipient of the Degrees of Chevalier and Legion of Honor, as well as the DeMolay of the Year Award. In the Order of DeMolay, he was a Local and State Master Councilor. He was a member and leader of numerous other civic organizations, serving as President of the Consistory of the O’Fallon United Church of Christ (where he had been a member since 2000), the Westside Optimist Club and was a founding member and President of the O’Fallon Optimist Club.
Harry graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1963 where he was the President of the Senior Class. He graduated from Belleville Junior College and later received the Generation of Success Award for his studies and service to his community. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Illinois in 1966 and a Juris Doctor from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago, Illinois in 1969. While in law school, he received the American Jurisprudence Award for outstanding study in Criminal Law and was inducted to the Bar and Gavel Society.
He was an appellate, eminent domain and real estate attorney, zealously advocating for his clients for 45 years. He represented landowners and family farms in their eminent domain cases relating to the expansion of Interstate 255, MetroLink, Mid-America Airport, Frank Scott Parkway and many others. In addition to his practice representing land owners, he was also a special assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois from 1973-1983. He was a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and St. Clair County Bar Association, serving as President from 2000-2001. Respected as an expert in his field, he had the distinction of being quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Readers Digest, and was recognized in the Best Lawyers edition of St. Louis Magazine. He instructed many continuing education courses, lecturing for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Illinois State Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Illinois Institute for Local Government Law. He authored articles for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education including “Ethical Considerations in the Organization and Operation of Professional Corporations,” chapters in the professional’s handbook on eminent domain, “Pleadings and Procedures by Condemnee” and “Causes of Action.” He was driven by a dedication to academics and education, and served as a professor of business and public law at Webster College from 1975-1977.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law Glenn and Eva “Kay" (née Reeder) Mohr Ehret and Grant Ehret; and his brother-in-law Daniel Mohr.
Harry is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Glenda (née Mohr) Sterling; his daughter, Melissa Ann Sterling; two sons, Harry John (Michelle Allen) Sterling, Jr. and Zachary Mohr (Alyssa Iwinski) Sterling; two granddaughters, Mollyanna Sterling Keim and Zoe Allen-Sterling; the mother of his children Melissa and Harry—Carol Sterling; siblings-in-law John and Patricia (Mohr) Balkonis; nieces and nephews whom he adored; and siblings Charlie (Judy) Sterling, Laura (Paul) Pickerel, and Mike (Betty) Sterling.
His memory will be kept alive in a manner befitting his life—heartfelt storytelling. He will be remembered as an impassioned orator and raconteur, whether in the courtroom or at the dinner table; a lover of all things sweet (particularly jelly bellies); a voracious reader, easily finishing multiple murder mysteries in a week; an outdoorsman with an affinity for every sunset he could get his eyes on; and a proud, proud father of his three children, whom in his eyes could do no wrong and whose accomplishments tired the ears of all his friends.
Kerr Brothers Funeral Home in Lexington, Kentucky is providing cremation services. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, January 20, 2023 at Wolfersberger Funeral Home at 102 West Washington Street in O’Fallon, Illinois. Celebration of Life to be held at 10:00 am (visitation from 9:00 am to 10:00 am) on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at the O’Fallon United Church of Christ at 206 West Adams Street in O’Fallon, Illinois, with Reverend Doctor Martha Thierheimer officiating.
Please address any memorials or donations to the John and Harriet Sterling Teachers Scholarship at Southwest Illinois College; or to the O’Fallon United Church of Christ. We will love and miss him all the days of our lives.