Rev. James “Michael” A. Stock, age 38 of the Town of Bear Creek, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, August 14, 2016, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision in the Township of Bear Creek.

Rev. James “Michael” Anthony Stock was born December 6, 1977 in Belleview, Nebraska to James and Melody (Jones) Stock. The second of three children, Michael attended Arapahoe High School in Arapahoe, NE and graduated in 1996; he also earned his BA in Sociology & Political Science in 2002 from Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL. He met Holly Manley while still in college and the couple was united in marriage on June 10, 2001 in Holly’s home-town of Sherman, IL. In 2007, he graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis where he received his Master of Divinity Degree. He served churches in Campbell and Rosemont, NE, after ordination, and later served as pastor of Pella Lutheran Church, Waupun, from 2010-2015. Michael was the current pastor of Grace and Trinity Lutheran Churches, Bear Creek, taking the pastoral call in January 2015. He was a member of the Bear Creek Lions Club. His interests outside of the church included gardening, photography, and fishing; all of which he loved to teach and share with his beloved children. Michael’s greatest joy was time spent with his family; he will always be remembered as a dedicated and attentive husband, father, and pastor.

He is survived by his loving wife of 15 years: Holly; children: Hannah, Isaac, Kitra, Elsabet, and Avi; parents: James (Linda Kohl) Stock, Streamwood, IL and Melody (Shawn) Alberts, Araphaoe, NE; sisters, Jamie (David) Harbour, Stamford, NE and Elizabeth (Andrew Schindler) Stock, Chicago, IL.

Funeral services will be held at noon Thursday, August 18, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Township of Bear Creek, with the Rev. Dr. Paul Alliet, Rev. Dwayne Lueck, and Rev. Todd Jerabek officiating. Interment will take place at Fancy Creek Cemetery, Township of Williams, IL at 12 p.m. on Monday, August 22, 2016. Friends may call at the church today, Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. The Eberhardt-Stevenson Funeral Home & Crema-tory, Clintonville is assisting his family. An online guestbook is available at eberhardtstevenson.com