Sally Lee Pestle, 90, of Macomb, Illinois, passed away peacefully at her daughter’s home on Saturday, March 07, 2026. She was born on February 26, 1936, in West Milton, Ohio, to Russell and Myrrl (Spence) Shellhaas. She married Charles Jesse Pestle on March 10, 1956. They enjoyed nearly 70 years of marriage until his death on Oct 18, 2025.
Surviving are three children: Jennifer (William) DeJong of Macomb, IL; Dwight (Julie Flynn) Pestle of Bushnell, IL; and Matthew (Sarah Watkins) Pestle of Nelson, New Zealand; one grandson, Colin DeJong of Iowa City, IA; and brother David Shellhaas of West Milton, OH. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Shellhaas.
Sally and Jesse’s partnership began with 16 years in the ministry. Throughout her long, productive life Sally further applied her considerable organizational skills and energy to the smooth operation of the family farm, Pestle Piano Service, area churches, PEO Chapter X, McDonough County Home Extension, and her own personal gardens and chickens. After raising her family she returned to school and completed a Bachelor of Arts at Western Illinois University, from which grew a further interest in the creative fiber arts which she practiced for the rest of her life.
Together Sally and Jesse fostered a love of music in their family as they continued taking music lessons as adults and performing with the McDonough County Choral Society. They traveled to both U.S. coasts and places in between on their Honda Goldwing motorcycle. Further afield they explored Italy, the British Isles, and New Zealand.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Bushnell Township Cemetery, with Pastor Mark Wolford officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Martin-Hollis Funeral Home, also in Bushnell. Memorial contributions may be made to MDH Hospice. Please sign the guestbook and leave condolences at www.martinhollisfh. com
