Stevan (Stevo) Iglendza passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at his home in Crown Point, Indiana, surrounded by his loving wife and best friend of 58 years, Milica, and their family.

Stevo was born in Koljane, Dalmacija to parents +Jovo and +Cvita (Miljkovic) Iglendza on October 26, 1941. He is preceded in death by siblings, +Milan (+Dragica) Iglendza and +Anica (+Mirko) Kurabas as well as in-laws +Ilija and +Cvita Kostur, +Protojerej Stavrofor Lazar Kostur, and +Andja and +Ilija Dragic.

At the age of 14, Stevo left his home in Dalmacija and moved to Banatsko Novo Selo. A few years later, in 1966, he had the opportunity to come to America. Shortly after his arrival, he was introduced to Milica Kostur. They married in the fall of 1967 at Sveti Ilija in Gary, Indiana, and began their life together in Glen Park, Indiana, joining a vibrant community of Serbian neighbors in the Northwest Indiana region. The many friendships they formed evolved into Kumstvo and life-long bonds.  We are forever grateful to them for their frequent visits to check in on Stevo and Milica.  

Stevo and Milica, lovingly known as Steve and Millie, were two peas in a pod throughout their beautiful 58 years together. They loved to joke around and were truly attached at the hip.

They had four sons, Milan, Lazar, Marko, and Stevan, who they proudly raised in their Serbian Orthodox faith, culture and heritage. Through their sons, they also gained three wonderful daughters in-laws, Marija (Dobrich), Kambi Jamieson, and Bojana (Bogdanovic). Stevo’s greatest joy were his seven granddaughters, Anastasija, Gabriella, Aleksija, Tatijana, Adriana, Elena, and Biljana. Deda loved to make his girls laugh. He loved to share strawberry sundaes with them while watching old westerns, and they were the only people in the world allowed to touch his awesome mustache.

Throughout his 58 years in the U.S., Stevo spent his working years at both Budd Company in Gary, Indiana and later at Anderson Company/Federal Mogul in Michigan City, Indiana.  He remained a champion of his heritage and culture, serving as the long-termed president and board member of the St. Elijah Sunday School, St. Elijah folklore group, and beloved church tutor for years. Stevo was always an active member of his parish community, spending his afternoons on the church grounds either playing bocce ball, meticulously landscaping, tending bar, and attending church, Kolo, choir, or Chetnik luncheons. He was a staple in the Sv. Ilija community, adored by all who knew him.

He had a special love for the Movement of Serbian Chetniks Ravna Gora, where he served as president and board member for many years. Some of his favorite tasks included selling their yearly calendar and taking care of the grounds. 

Special thanks to the team at SouthernCare Hospice Services and especially nurse Ashley who provided exceptional care, love and comfort. Also, a sincere thank you to all of Stevo’s neighbors who helped take care of him like their own, and a special thank you to Kuma Milka (+Kum Vaso) Popovich for her unwavering support, love, and dedication to her Kumovi.  

Stevo is survived by his loving wife, Milica, his sons, daughters-in-law and granddaughters, sister-in-law, Protinica Mira Kostur and her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Kuma Slavka Manojlovic and his three godchildren, Jovo (Deanne) Manojlovic, Denny (Branka) Manojlovic and Milica (Alex) Lopez.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews in the U.S. and Srbija and countless Kumovi – Bodrozic, Samardzija, and Novkovic.

He will be missed by all who knew him and remembered for his love and dedication to his family, friends, and church community. 

Donations can be made to St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville, Stevo’s home away from home.

May his memory be eternal. We love you too, Deda.

Visitation for Stevo will be held Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 10am St Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 8700 Taft St., Merrillville, IN with Funeral Service beginning at 11am. V. Rev Aleksandar Novakovic and Rev Nikolaj Kostur officiating. Internment Calumet Park Cemetery. For further information please call Mileva at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel 219-736-5840. Vecnaja Pamjat. 

Stevan (Stevo) Iglendža je mirno preminuo u sredu, 20. avgusta 2025. godine u svom domu u Crown Pointu, Indijana, okružen svojom voljenom suprugom i najboljom prijateljicom Milicom, sa kojom je bio 58 godina u braku, i njihovom porodicom.

Stevo je rođen u Koljanima, Dalmacija, od roditelja Jova i Cvite (Miljković) Iglendže, 26. oktobra 1941. godine. Pre njega su preminuli braća i sestre Milan (Dragica) Iglendža i Anica (Mirko) Kurabas, kao i tazbina Ilija i Cvita Kostur, protojerej Stavrofor Lazar Kostur i Anđa i Ilija Dragić.

Sa 14 godina, Stevo je napustio svoj dom u Dalmaciji i preselio se u Banatsko Novo Selo. Nekoliko godina kasnije, 1966. godine, imao je priliku da dođe u Ameriku. Ubrzo nakon dolaska, upoznao je Milicu Kostur. Venčali su se u jesen 1967. u Svetom Iliji u Gary, Indijana, i započeli zajednički život u Glen Parku, Indijana, pridruživši se živoj zajednici srpskih komšija u severozapadnom regionu Indijane. Brojna prijateljstva koja su stvorili razvila su se u kumstvo i doživotne veze. Zauvek smo im zahvalni na njihovim čestim posetama kako bi proverili kako su Stevo i Milica.

Stevo i Milica, s ljubavlju poznati kao Stiv i Mili, bili su kao dva jajeta u mahuni tokom svojih lepih 58 godina zajedno. Voleli su da se šale i bili su zaista vezani jedno za drugo.

Imali su četiri sina, Milana, Lazara, Marka i Stevana, koje su ponosno odgajali u svojoj srpskoj pravoslavnoj veri, kulturi i nasleđu. Preko svojih sinova, stekli su i tri divne snaje, Mariju (Dobrič), Kambi Jamieson i Bojanu (Bogdanović). Stevova najveća radost bile su njegovih sedam unuka, Anastasija, Gabriella, Aleksija, Tatijana, Adriana, Elena i Biljana. Deda je voleo da nasmeje svoje devojčice. Voleo je da deli sa njima sladoled od jagoda dok je gledao stare vesterne, i oni su bili jedini ljudi na svetu kojima je bilo dozvoljeno da dodirnu njegove sjajne brkove.

Tokom svojih 58 godina u Americi, Stevo je proveo svoje radne godine u kompaniji BUDD u Gary, Indijana, a kasnije u kompaniji Anderson/Federal Mogul u Michigan City, Indijana. Ostao je zagovornik svog nasleđa i kulture, služeći kao dugogodišnji predsednik i član upravnog odbora nedeljne škole Sveti Ilija, folklorne grupe Sveti Ilija i voljeni crkveni tutor godinama. Stevo je uvek bio aktivan član svoje parohijske zajednice, provodeći popodneva na crkvenom imanju igrajući boćanje, pažljivo uređujući pejzaž, brinući se o šanku i prisustvujući crkvenim, kolo, horskim ili četničkim ručkovima. Bio je stalni član zajednice Sveti Ilija, obožavan od strane svih koji su ga poznavali.

Posebno je voleo Pokret srpskih četnika Ravna Gora, gde je godinama služio kao predsednik i član upravnog odbora. Neki od njegovih omiljenih zadataka uključivali su prodaju njihovog godišnjeg kalendara i brigu o imanju.

Posebna zahvalnost timu u SouthernCare Hospice Services i posebno medicinskoj sestri Ešli koja je pružila izuzetnu negu, ljubav i utehu. Takođe, iskrena zahvalnost svim Stevim komšijama koji su pomogli da se brinu o njemu kao o svom, i posebna zahvalnost Kumi Milki (+Kum Vaso) Popović za njenu nepokolebljivu podršku, ljubav i posvećenost njenim Kumovima.

Stevu su preživeli njegova voljena supruga Milica, sinovi, snaje i unuke, surnaja Protinica Mira Kostur i njena deca, unuci i praunuci, Kuma Slavka Manojlović i njegovo troje kumčeta, Jovo (Deanne) Manojlović, Denny(Branka) Manojlović i Milica (Alex) Lopez. Takođe su ga preživeli mnogi nećaci i nećakinje u Americi i Srbiji i bezbroj Kumova – Bodrožić, Samardžija i Novković.

Nedostajaće svima koji su ga poznavali i pamtiće ga se po ljubavi i posvećenosti porodici, prijateljima i crkvenoj zajednici.

Donacije se mogu uplatiti Srpskoj pravoslavnoj katedrali Svetog Ilije u Merilvilu; njegov drugi dom.

Neka mu je večno sećanje. I mi tebe volimo, Deda.

Pomen za Stevu će se održati u utorak, 26. avgusta 2025. u 10 časova u Srpskoj pravoslavnoj katedrali Svetog Ilije, Taft ulica 8700, Merilvil, Indijana, a sahrana počinje u 11 časova. Službu će voditi prepodobni Aleksandar Novaković i O,Nikolaj Kostur.. Groblje Kalumet Park – internirani. Za dodatne informacije pozovite Milevu u pogrebnoj kapeli Kalumet Park na broj 219-736-5840. Večna pamjat.