Warren "Babe" L. Stahlhut

Warren “Babe” Stahlhut, age 83, of Edwardsville, IL, passed away on Friday, February 21, 2025, at Anderson Hospital in Maryville, IL.  Babe was born on January 5, 1942, in Highland, IL, the son of the late Ernst & Lydia (Neuhaus) Stahlhut. Babe married Karma (Becker) Stahlhut on April 2, 1977, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville.  Karma preceded Babe in death on October 28, 2023, after 46 years of marriage.  Babe is survived by two daughters, Liddy (Christopher) Lafikes, of Edwardsville, IL, and Lynn (Brennon) Thomas of San Antonio, TX; four grandchildren, Noah Lafikes, Isaac Lafikes, Micah Thomas & Nolan Thomas; and a brother, Jerry Stahlhut, of Worden, IL. Besides his parents and wife, Babe was preceded in death by a brother, Merle Stahlhut. Babe was a Vietnam veteran serving in the US Army. He was also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Edwardsville. 

Babe was a 1960 graduate of Edwardsville High School. While in high school he participated in wrestling and football. He attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale walking on for the Salukis wrestling and football teams before earning a scholarship for his athleticism. Babe obtained a master’s degree and began his 33-year teaching and coaching career for the Edwardsville School District in 1968. There, he met the cute school secretary he ended up marrying. He taught mostly physical education and also health, drivers education, and world geography.  Babe was also the head wrestling coach for 27 years, girls track and field coach for 15 years, an assistant football coach for 19 years, an assistant boys track and field coach for 8 years, and assistant baseball coach for one year before retiring in 2001. The Wrestling Arena was named in his honor at the Jon Davis Wrestling Center in 2009, and he was recently elected to the Edwardsville Sports Hall of Fame in 2024.

During the summers, he enjoyed pitching softball for the Pantera’s team, planning canoeing trips, scheduling tennis tournaments with his friends, and taking camping trips around the country with his family. After retirement, he spent his time camping at Carlyle Lake with Karma, playing with his grandsons, and traveling to San Antonio to visit his daughter and family.
Babe had a passion for sports, especially Edwardsville High School. After retirement, you could find Babe officiating a wrestling match or volleyball game, starting a track meet, running the chain on the football sideline, or attending any kind of sporting event around town. He could also be seen riding his bike, reading newspapers at the library, working out at the YMCA, golfing, or exploring the Watershed Nature Center behind his house. He never met a stranger and was always being greeted by former students and athletes. More recently, he enjoyed walking with his Walking Group on Friday mornings and meeting with his brother and friends at McDonald’s. 

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm.  A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, February 26, at Trinity Lutheran Church at 10:30 am with Rev. John Shank officiating.  Interment will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville. In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the District 7 Alumni Association for the benefit of the EHS Athletic Department.  Memorial checks made out to D7 Alumni Association can either be accepted at the services or mailed to:

D7 Alumni Assoc. 
708 St Louis St
PO Box 250  
Edwardsville, IL 62025 

Link to the Hall of Fame video:  2024 EHS Athletic HOF Inductee, Warren “Babe” Stahlhut