Steven J. Pedigo

 Steven J. Pedigo, 64, of Davenport, passed away Tuesday January 17, 2016 at the home of his daughter, Amanda, in Rock Island.

 A memorial visitation will be 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, January 21st at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 - 7th Ave., Rock Island. Private inurnment will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens, East Moline, at a later date. A Celebration of Steven's life with live Blues music will be held at Cabana's in Rock Island on February 18th, starting and 5:00 p.m.  Memorials may be made to Doctors Without Borders, Quad City Animal Welfare Center or Mississippi Valley Blues Society.

Surviving are his daughters, Angela Anders, and her husband Peter, of Rock Island, and Amanda Coulter, and her fiancé Michael DePaepe, of Rock Island; grandchildren, Mayson and Torianna Davis, both of Rock Island; great grandson, Malakai Gore; sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Allen Plaster, of New Bern, NC; brothers, Bruce Pedigo, Chicago, IL and Russell Pedigo, Los Angeles, CA;  and nieces and nephew,  Audrey, Julie and Philip Bottjen.  Steve was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter, Katherine "Katie" Pedigo.  Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com

 Steve was born October 25, 1952 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, son of William J. and Anne E. (Lukens) Pedigo. He was formerly married to Mary A. England.  He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War era. He served as a First Mate on Mississippi barges for many years. Later, he was self-employed, as he would say, “As a jack of all trades, Master of none.”

His voice was heard over radio station KALA 88.5 where he was known as DJ Ignint. In addition to his radio work, Steve was a gifted writer for the Blues News and the The River City Reader.  Steve had a wonderful sense of humor and frequently signed his writings as The Right Revernd J. “Muggles” Freebourne, and The Rt Honourable Prof. Aloysius T. Gitwiddit, Esq.  One of his other great passions was learning.  He was a voracious reader and if you have ever wondered how we lived without Google to answer all questions – well, you just asked Steve.

Steve was a longtime member and volunteer for the Mississippi Valley Blues Society and was currently serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors. He was a tireless worker for the annual Blues fest, best remembered for climbing tall ladders to hang banners. Still, his love was for local blues bands in small venues.  He wrote, “Give me a club, just a club that’s a little too small, a little too crowded, a little too hot and sweaty, a little too dark, a little too dangerous, and I’m in Blues heaven.”

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