William O. Kendall, age 75 of Greenville, passed away Wednesday evening, September 27, 2023, at Hillsboro Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, Hillsboro, Illinois.
William O. ‘Bill’ Kendall was born November 8, 1947, to William and Irma Kendall. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, having battled Alzheimer’s for five years.
Bill was very active in his youth and loved all things outdoors including training hunting dogs. He was a Boy Scout where he obtained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was a 1965 graduate of Greenville High School.
Bill was a graduate of Ranken Technical College and worked at Shell Oil Refinery as a machinist his entire professional career.
He served his country honorably in the Vietnam war. Upon his discharge, he became a lifelong member and supporter of the Bond County Memorial VFW Post 1377, where he was instrumental in the construction of their current home on South Fourth Street.
Up until the disease prevented him from doing so, he put up flags in the city cemeteries every Memorial Day and assisted with the organization of the annual Memorial Day program. Each year, it was his “role” to read General John A. Logan’s orders on the creation of Memorial Day.
Upon his retirement, he rarely missed a Veteran’s funeral in Greenville and folded hundreds of American Flags.
In 1976, he formed a union with Janice ‘Carol’ (Alderman) Kendall. They were married in 1984 and remained together until her passing in July of 2004. Bill was by her side, lovingly caring for her as she battled cancer.
An avid hunter, Bill traveled the world in pursuit of big game, which included two African safaris with Carol with stops in England and Switzerland.
He was also a strong believer in hunter education and as a certified instructor, Bill assisted hundreds of area youth over a 25+ year period earn their hunting license.
Bill was a longtime member of the Greenville Jaycees, having served as president, and shot more fireworks displays for the community than anyone in the city’s history.
He was Past Master of the Sorento Lodge #861 and attained the rank Third Degree Mason.
Although the word “step” should technically be used, Bill was a loving, and sometimes cantankerous, father of three: Rick, Robin, and Randy; grandfather to seven grandchildren (Jeremy, Brad, Jill, Kate, Ryan, Kassidy, and Molly); and a great grandfather ten times over. He loved them all as his own and assisted them greatly during his life.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Greenville and sang in the choir.
Funeral services will be held Friday, October 6, 2023, at 1pm at Donnell-Wiegand Funeral Home, with full military honors. His dear friend and fishing partner, the Rev. Tim Pate, will officiate the service. Visitation will be Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 4-7pm, with Masonic Services at 6pm.
In leu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Bond County Memorial VFW Post 1377.
