George F. "Bud" Taseff, 65, of Germantown Hills, IL, went to be with the Lord, after suffering a sudden heart attack, on Friday, April 2, 2021, at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL.

George was born on December 2, 1955, to George and Gloria (Hansen) Taseff. He married Jeanine Leahy on March 30, 1985, at the United Methodist Church in Hoopeston, IL. Jeanine survives, along with two sons, Nicholas R. Taseff of Chicago and Devin M. (Jenna) Taseff of Washington; a granddaughter, Millie Taseff of Washington; a sister, Nora (Fred) Tuggle of Prescott, Arizona; and a brother, Ray (Liesbeth Boots) Taseff of Miami, Florida.

George was preceded in death by a nephew, Dean Leahy; brother-in-law, Larry Leahy; and a sister, Teri Rae Taseff.

George graduated from Carlinville High School in 1974, where he played basketball, track and cross country. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in political science from Illinois State University in 1978. He graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law in 1981. Initially, George worked as a staff attorney for ISU Student Legal Services and began teaching as an adjunct professor in the university's Criminal Justice department. In 1985, George and Jeanine moved to St. Louis, where George joined the law firm of Norman S. London and Associates. A year later, they moved back to Bloomington, where he partnered with Hal Jennings in a law firm. He also began teaching again at ISU and kept that part-time adjunct professor position for 20 years. He left the Jennings law firm in 1995 to work as a federal public defender for 26 years.

At the time of his death, George was the Senior Litigator of the Federal Public Defender Central District of Illinois in Peoria. He was a long-time member of the Illinois and Missouri Bar Associations. George was a passionate servant of the law and the constitutional right to fair and effective representation within the federal justice system. He treated everyone he encountered with dignity and respect and was energized by mentoring the next generation of public defenders.

George's Christian faith was an essential part of his life. George had a personal ministry of preparing wills pro bono for many in our community. He was a regular volunteer at his church and the Dream Center Peoria, where he served on the DCP board of directors. "He was Mr. Dream Center," said Andy King, the organization's executive director, adding that, "George would talk to people about what we were doing and recruit them to get on board. He will be deeply missed."

George was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. His greatest enjoyment in life was spending time with his family. He was a great storyteller. He loved to barbecue and cook for family, friends and coworkers. George prepared over 100 pounds of pork for the entire Metamora High School football team's pre-game meals when his two sons played varsity football in 2007, the year the team won the Class 5A State Championship. George always found time to encourage and inspire others and had a gift of knowing just what to say to a family member or friend, a client or stranger to help them and lift them up. One of his favorite Bible verses was Micah 6:8 "Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God."

A private gathering of George's immediate family and cremation have already taken place. The Taseff family will be planning a Celebration of Life later this year.