Michael Jeffrey Still

Mike was born in Decatur, Illinois on February 14, 1944, son of Cecil and Lula Still (née Corman). He is survived by his partner, Marla Wachter, brother Stuart, son and daughter-in-law Jonathan and Jennifer, and grandchildren Jack (20) and Laurin (17).

He graduated from Mt Zion High School in 1962, followed by attendance at the University of Illinois. While in college, he was a member of the Nabor House Fraternity and a naval reservist. He married Susan Grindol, also of Mt Zion, in 1965. After graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree in 1966, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI, and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. He and Susan were then stationed in Aruba, Netherlands Antilles, where he served as a Fuels Supply Officer for 3 years. After returning stateside in 1969, he completed a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Illinois, and began teaching Agricultural Science courses at Illinois Central College in East Peoria. He remained in the Navy Reserves and retired as a Captain (O-6) after 27 years of service.

In 1977, he was hired by the Woodford County offices of Country Companies Insurance, quickly establishing himself as a top agent and setting up an office in Metamora, IL. In 1984, he moved to Quincy, IL to lead Adams, Brown, & Schuyler counties as Agency Manager. In 1991, he became Executive Vice President of Agency for all of COUNTRY COMPANIES, and moved to their corporate office in Bloomington, IL. He stepped down from the V.P. position in 1995 to lead McLean County as Agency Manager. In 1998, he moved to Gilbert, AZ to become District Director of Agencies for Arizona and Nevada. He retired in 2003, having greatly enjoyed his career and the people he worked with.

Throughout his life, Mike was an aviation buff, and looked skyward for inspiration. He shared this passion with his son, and they started taking flying lessons together in 1987. When Jon left for college, Mike began building an open-cockpit biplane. He went on to earn his pilot’s license and build or restore six airplanes over the next 25 years, earning numerous awards for meticulous craftsmanship. He also put his leadership skills to good use in local aviation organizations, serving as President of EAA Chapter 1445 from 2007-2011, and as President of the Copperstate Fly-In Expo from 2008-2012.

Although Mike and Susan separated in 2017 and later divorced, they remained friends. He shared the remainder of his life with his partner, Marla Wachter, in Chandler, Arizona. She was by his side in loving kindness as his soul left his body.

Mike was a loving father and grandfather, and a good friend to many people along the way. He was a generous man who gave freely of his time and talents, and was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone he came across. In this spirit, he graciously donated his body for scientific research, continuing to give freely of himself, even after his spirit had departed the world.

A “Celebration of Life” is planned to be held at Valley of the Sun Mortuary in Chandler, Arizona on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 2pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Michael to the EAA Aviation

Foundation ( https://www.eaa.org/eaa/support-eaa/give/ ), University of Illinois’ Nabor House ( http://

www.naborhouse.com/donate.html ), or Rotary International ( https://www.rotary.org/en/donate ).