Willard Ernest Birkmeier, 83, of 1024 Audubon Drive, Pekin, passed away at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at Pekin Manor.
Born Aug. 29, 1928, in Pekin, to Ernest and Mattie Parlier Birkmeier.
He married Phyllis Griffin on May 7, 1950, in Pekin. She survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Janis (Mark) Bolen; one son, Michael (Charissa) Birkmeier; two grandsons, Lucas (Brooke) Bolen and Drew Bolen; great-grandsons, Brady and Andrew Bolen; one sister, Patricia (George) Miller; a brother-in-law, Donald Griffin; a sister-in-law, Kay Griffin and three nieces, Pamela Clair, Judy Miller and Jody (Michael) Hogan; a nephew, Michael Griffin and two grand-nephews, Eric Griffin and Travis Hogan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Christopher Birkmeier.
Willard began his working career as a paper boy at age 8 and graduated to be a postal carrier at 15, under Post Master Peach Preston. He went on to work at Steger's Furniture Store and later became owner of Comisky Furniture, both in Pekin. He served with the U.S. Army 24th Division, 34th Regiment, during World War II. Willard served as the mayor of the city of Pekin from 1979 through 1987 after serving on the city council for eight years. He then served as the executive director for the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce from 1989 to 1993. Formerly, he had been a member of the Tazewell County Board from 1963 to 1967 and had served as the chairman of the Pekin Township Resource Committee for 10 years and was director emeritus of the Miller Senior Citizen Center in Pekin. Willard was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin for 61 years, where he had served on many committees. He also was a member of Pekin Elks Lodge 1271, Eagles Aerie 1869, Pekin Family Moose Center 916, Empire Masonic Lodge 126, A.F.&A.M., Irin Grotto, Consistory Club, all in Pekin; the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria; Mohammed Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., Peoria Area Shrine Club and the Mohammed Shrine of Peoria Legion of Honor. Willard was a past member and chairman of the Pekin Hospital Foundation. He had served on the board of directors of Pekin Hospital, Holiday School for Handicapped Children, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, the Illinois Municipal League, Pekin Jaycees and the Tri-County Planning Commission. He was involved in many charitable events, including the Alzheimers Association's first Memory Walk and the Pekin Air Show to benefit St. Jude.
Cremation will be accorded by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, in Pekin. Masonic rites will be accorded at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at First United Methodist Church, in Pekin, to be followed immediately by a memorial service. The Rev. Terry Edele and the Rev. Judy Doyle will officiate. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens, in Pekin at a later date. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court St., Pekin, IL 61554, St. Jude's Research Hospital for Children, 4722 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL 61614 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707.
Pekin Daily Times (Pekin, IL) - November 5, 2011
Note: thanks to contributor, Stephen, for links to his parents.
Born Aug. 29, 1928, in Pekin, to Ernest and Mattie Parlier Birkmeier.
He married Phyllis Griffin on May 7, 1950, in Pekin. She survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Janis (Mark) Bolen; one son, Michael (Charissa) Birkmeier; two grandsons, Lucas (Brooke) Bolen and Drew Bolen; great-grandsons, Brady and Andrew Bolen; one sister, Patricia (George) Miller; a brother-in-law, Donald Griffin; a sister-in-law, Kay Griffin and three nieces, Pamela Clair, Judy Miller and Jody (Michael) Hogan; a nephew, Michael Griffin and two grand-nephews, Eric Griffin and Travis Hogan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Christopher Birkmeier.
Willard began his working career as a paper boy at age 8 and graduated to be a postal carrier at 15, under Post Master Peach Preston. He went on to work at Steger's Furniture Store and later became owner of Comisky Furniture, both in Pekin. He served with the U.S. Army 24th Division, 34th Regiment, during World War II. Willard served as the mayor of the city of Pekin from 1979 through 1987 after serving on the city council for eight years. He then served as the executive director for the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce from 1989 to 1993. Formerly, he had been a member of the Tazewell County Board from 1963 to 1967 and had served as the chairman of the Pekin Township Resource Committee for 10 years and was director emeritus of the Miller Senior Citizen Center in Pekin. Willard was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin for 61 years, where he had served on many committees. He also was a member of Pekin Elks Lodge 1271, Eagles Aerie 1869, Pekin Family Moose Center 916, Empire Masonic Lodge 126, A.F.&A.M., Irin Grotto, Consistory Club, all in Pekin; the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria; Mohammed Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., Peoria Area Shrine Club and the Mohammed Shrine of Peoria Legion of Honor. Willard was a past member and chairman of the Pekin Hospital Foundation. He had served on the board of directors of Pekin Hospital, Holiday School for Handicapped Children, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, the Illinois Municipal League, Pekin Jaycees and the Tri-County Planning Commission. He was involved in many charitable events, including the Alzheimers Association's first Memory Walk and the Pekin Air Show to benefit St. Jude.
Cremation will be accorded by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, in Pekin. Masonic rites will be accorded at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at First United Methodist Church, in Pekin, to be followed immediately by a memorial service. The Rev. Terry Edele and the Rev. Judy Doyle will officiate. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens, in Pekin at a later date. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court St., Pekin, IL 61554, St. Jude's Research Hospital for Children, 4722 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL 61614 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707.
Pekin Daily Times (Pekin, IL) - November 5, 2011
Note: thanks to contributor, Stephen, for links to his parents.
Willard Ernest Birkmeier, 83, of 1024 Audubon Drive, Pekin, passed away at 7 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011, at Pekin Manor.
Born Aug. 29, 1928, in Pekin, to Ernest and Mattie Parlier Birkmeier.
He married Phyllis Griffin on May 7, 1950, in Pekin. She survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Janis (Mark) Bolen; one son, Michael (Charissa) Birkmeier; two grandsons, Lucas (Brooke) Bolen and Drew Bolen; great-grandsons, Brady and Andrew Bolen; one sister, Patricia (George) Miller; a brother-in-law, Donald Griffin; a sister-in-law, Kay Griffin and three nieces, Pamela Clair, Judy Miller and Jody (Michael) Hogan; a nephew, Michael Griffin and two grand-nephews, Eric Griffin and Travis Hogan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Christopher Birkmeier.
Willard began his working career as a paper boy at age 8 and graduated to be a postal carrier at 15, under Post Master Peach Preston. He went on to work at Steger's Furniture Store and later became owner of Comisky Furniture, both in Pekin. He served with the U.S. Army 24th Division, 34th Regiment, during World War II. Willard served as the mayor of the city of Pekin from 1979 through 1987 after serving on the city council for eight years. He then served as the executive director for the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce from 1989 to 1993. Formerly, he had been a member of the Tazewell County Board from 1963 to 1967 and had served as the chairman of the Pekin Township Resource Committee for 10 years and was director emeritus of the Miller Senior Citizen Center in Pekin. Willard was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin for 61 years, where he had served on many committees. He also was a member of Pekin Elks Lodge 1271, Eagles Aerie 1869, Pekin Family Moose Center 916, Empire Masonic Lodge 126, A.F.&A.M., Irin Grotto, Consistory Club, all in Pekin; the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria; Mohammed Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., Peoria Area Shrine Club and the Mohammed Shrine of Peoria Legion of Honor. Willard was a past member and chairman of the Pekin Hospital Foundation. He had served on the board of directors of Pekin Hospital, Holiday School for Handicapped Children, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, the Illinois Municipal League, Pekin Jaycees and the Tri-County Planning Commission. He was involved in many charitable events, including the Alzheimers Association's first Memory Walk and the Pekin Air Show to benefit St. Jude.
Cremation will be accorded by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, in Pekin. Masonic rites will be accorded at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at First United Methodist Church, in Pekin, to be followed immediately by a memorial service. The Rev. Terry Edele and the Rev. Judy Doyle will officiate. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens, in Pekin at a later date. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court St., Pekin, IL 61554, St. Jude's Research Hospital for Children, 4722 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL 61614 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707.
Pekin Daily Times (Pekin, IL) - November 5, 2011
Note: thanks to contributor, Stephen, for links to his parents.
Born Aug. 29, 1928, in Pekin, to Ernest and Mattie Parlier Birkmeier.
He married Phyllis Griffin on May 7, 1950, in Pekin. She survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Janis (Mark) Bolen; one son, Michael (Charissa) Birkmeier; two grandsons, Lucas (Brooke) Bolen and Drew Bolen; great-grandsons, Brady and Andrew Bolen; one sister, Patricia (George) Miller; a brother-in-law, Donald Griffin; a sister-in-law, Kay Griffin and three nieces, Pamela Clair, Judy Miller and Jody (Michael) Hogan; a nephew, Michael Griffin and two grand-nephews, Eric Griffin and Travis Hogan.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Christopher Birkmeier.
Willard began his working career as a paper boy at age 8 and graduated to be a postal carrier at 15, under Post Master Peach Preston. He went on to work at Steger's Furniture Store and later became owner of Comisky Furniture, both in Pekin. He served with the U.S. Army 24th Division, 34th Regiment, during World War II. Willard served as the mayor of the city of Pekin from 1979 through 1987 after serving on the city council for eight years. He then served as the executive director for the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce from 1989 to 1993. Formerly, he had been a member of the Tazewell County Board from 1963 to 1967 and had served as the chairman of the Pekin Township Resource Committee for 10 years and was director emeritus of the Miller Senior Citizen Center in Pekin. Willard was a member of First United Methodist Church in Pekin for 61 years, where he had served on many committees. He also was a member of Pekin Elks Lodge 1271, Eagles Aerie 1869, Pekin Family Moose Center 916, Empire Masonic Lodge 126, A.F.&A.M., Irin Grotto, Consistory Club, all in Pekin; the Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria; Mohammed Shrine A.A.O.N.M.S., Peoria Area Shrine Club and the Mohammed Shrine of Peoria Legion of Honor. Willard was a past member and chairman of the Pekin Hospital Foundation. He had served on the board of directors of Pekin Hospital, Holiday School for Handicapped Children, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Midwest Affiliate, the Illinois Municipal League, Pekin Jaycees and the Tri-County Planning Commission. He was involved in many charitable events, including the Alzheimers Association's first Memory Walk and the Pekin Air Show to benefit St. Jude.
Cremation will be accorded by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory, in Pekin. Masonic rites will be accorded at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at First United Methodist Church, in Pekin, to be followed immediately by a memorial service. The Rev. Terry Edele and the Rev. Judy Doyle will officiate. Burial will be at Glendale Memorial Gardens, in Pekin at a later date. Visitation will be from 1 to 2:45 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1315 Court St., Pekin, IL 61554, St. Jude's Research Hospital for Children, 4722 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL 61614 or to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707.
Pekin Daily Times (Pekin, IL) - November 5, 2011
Note: thanks to contributor, Stephen, for links to his parents.
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