Born in Belleville, Illinois, Stiehl was in the United States Navy Lieutenant during World War II, from 1943 to 1946 and again from 1950 to 1952.
In 1948, Stiehl was elected to the Belleville Town High School and Junior College Board of Education and served as its President.
He was a special assistant attorney general of State of Illinois from 1970 to 1973.
[1][2] Stiehl was nominated by President Ronald Reagan on May 14, 1986, to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, to a new seat created by 98 Stat.
His wife Celeste M. Stiehl served in the Illinois House of Representatives.