ROCK FALLS – Walter B. “Bud” Stigall, 95, of Rock Falls, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014, at his home.

He was born Dec. 30, 1918, in Rock Falls, the son of Bert Roscoe and Henrietta Christina (Jensen) Stigall. Bud served in the Army Reserve, and then enlisted in the Navy during World War II. He married Darla J. (Fritz) Fullmer on Aug. 11, 1961, in Mount Carroll. He was a business owner, a journalist, and a newspaper columnist, writing the Outdoor Outlook for the Daily Gazette for 30 years. He was a member of the American Legion; a member and past president of AGLOW, Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers; OWAA, Outdoor Writers Association of America; a founding and life member of the Sinnissippi Rod and Gun Club; a past member of the Rock Falls High School Board; a founding member of Rock Falls Chamber of Commerce; and a past member of the Whiteside County Tavern Association, Whiteside County Clean Stream Committee, and the Illinois-Wisconsin Waterways Commission.

He was the recipient of multiple awards, including from the Whiteside County Youth Program, the Resources Communication Award; Illinois Fisheries Department; Hennepin Canal Parkway; Illinois Department of Conservation; Better Fishing Association of Illinois; and RRDA, Rock River Development Authority.

Survivors include his wife, Darla; three daughters, Sandy (Luke) Hudson and Trudy (the late Larry) Fisher, both of Rock Falls, and Rita (Rory) Smith of Sterling; five sons, Rick (Nadie Butler) Fullmer of Grafton, Wisconsin, Kim (Barb) Stigall of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, and Randy Fullmer, Ronny Fullmer and Rory (Ana) Fullmer, all of Rock Falls; 17 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, Rodney Fullmer; a granddaughter, Connie Sue Fullmer; and his sister, Marguerite Yeager.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at McDonald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1002 12th Ave., Rock Falls. The memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Peg Williams officiating. Military honors will be accorded after the memorial service.