Stephen Dale Brill, 53 of Cabool, MO passed away on April 8th, 2023 at his family home. He was born on February 22, 1970 in Houston, MO the son of Bobby and Judy Brill.
Stephen was united in marriage to Jeanine E (Ellsworth) on February 14, 2004.
Stephen accepted Christ as his Savior at a young age and his faith was a very big part of his life. He taught Sunday school at the First Baptist Church for many years. He was a stickler for his rules and was known for giving push-ups as discipline and rewarded his students with donuts each morning.
Stephen found his calling in the military. To him, joining the military was not about the honor, or glory, it was only about protecting his country and the family he loved. Stephen served his country for 26 years. He started in the Air Force, then to the Army, and finally the Army National Guard. He served multiple deployments: Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989; Operation Desert Storm in the Gulf Wars in 1990-1991; Operation in Somalia in 1993; two tours in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and a training mission to Afghanistan to train soldiers.
Stephen began working for the Mine Safety and Health Administration in 1999. He worked there for 17 years as a Federal Investigator and Federal Mine Inspector. If you know Stephen, you know he did things his own way. He was the first one to go through the Department of Labor: Mines and Safety Academy and graduate from the Health Administration: National Health and Safety Academy without working in the mines. To say he made friends there, would be an understatement. They were not just his friends, they were his lifelong brothers and sisters. He graduated from the Safety Academy on February 13, 2003.
Stephen was preceded in death by his grandparents, Otis and Betty Grafton and grandfather, Herbert Brill. He is survived by his wife, Jeanine of the home; his children, Bryan Dale Brill, Aaron Robert Brill, Baylee Ann Brill and Jessica Elizabeth Brill; grandmother, Shorty Brill; his parents, Bobby and Judy Brill; older sister, Tammy Teel, baby sister, Cary Kinder and baby brother, Travis Brill; his partner in crime, Tigger who was always by his side, as well as many nieces and nephews. He had no blood grandchildren, but he had many friends with children that he spoiled like they were his. He had many, many friends that to him, were also his family.
Stephen was known for his welcoming soul that accepted anyone that walked through his front door. He will forever be missed, but never forgotten.
