William Harding

William "Bill" D. HardingAge 83 of Lily Lake, IL passed away at Mercy Center Hospital, Aurora. After years of struggling with congestive heart failure, recent surgery was overwhelming for Bill and he passed away peacefully, Friday, December 7, 2007. He was born in Luverne, MN, October 5, 1924, the third son of William D. and Oella (Cragoe) Harding. When he was four years old the family moved to Sycamore, IL where Bill graduated from Sycamore High School with the class of 1942. As a teenager, he began working with his dad on the family farm and at Delmonte Foods. In the years to come, he would never stray far from the world of farming and trucking. He married Maxine Lindgren on Valentine’s day, 1946 and they farmed in the Genoa-Sycamore area for four years before moving to her family’s homestead near Lily Lake, IL. In 1950 Bill purchased a milk truck and began hauling milk from area farms to the Borden Dairy in Chicago. Four years later, he bought his first semi-tanker and in 1960 Bill began hauling for Green Giant Frozen and Canned Foods in Belvedere, IL. Along the way, he also delivered gasoline and fuel oil for the Harris Oil Company. Retiring in 1984, Bill had more time to devote to his home and family as well as his church and community. He was an active member of the Grace Lutheran Church, Lily Lake where he served on the church council for years and also mowed the church lawn with his ever reliable "Simplicity" mower. Bill served the community as sexton of Lily Lake Cemetery and was an election judge for a number of years as well. He was also a member of the Sycamore Moose Lodge. Years of trucking in the food industry also gave Bill the connections to pick up some great bargains which he passed along at cost to friends and neighbors in need. Bill and Maxine began a pinochle card club in the fifties and made life long friends whom Bill appreciated deeply. His sense of humor was legendary as were his stories and his colorful way of expressing himself on most everything. Fishing was his favorite pastime and Minnesota was his favorite place to throw in a line. When declining health confined him more and more to home, he never complained but kept in touch by phone. His calls came like clock-work as did his routine question, "what’s the temperature there". Bill could talk for hours but when it was time for Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune or the Bears game, his good-byes might be abrupt. In the hearts of loved ones and friends, Bill leaves a million memories inspired simply by the genuine way he lived every day. SURVIVORS He is survived by Maxine, his wife of 61 years;Four children : Marilyn (David) McConnaughay of Sugar Grove, ILCarolyn (Bob) Sebby of Bull Shoals, AR,. Dianne "Dee" (Gary) Hartung of Genoa, IL and Russell (Isabel) Harding of Plantation, FL;Five grandchildren:Marilyn’s:Marsha (Jerry) Schuster of Batavia, IL, Brent (Colleen) McConnaughay of Sycamore, ILCarolyn’s:Bill (Chris) Sebby of Flippin, ARRuthie (Brian) Giese of Montgomery, ILJenny (Jim) Buchanan of Oswego, ILEleven great-grandchildren: Marsha’s: Owen Jerome, and Molly Noelle,Brent’s: Mary Katherine, Margaret Grace "Maggie", Megan Delaney,Ruthie’s: Jacob Ryan, Reagan Marie, Justin Robert Jenny’s: Lauren Ashley, Grace Elizabeth, Caroline Rose ;Siblings:One brother: Charles (Mardel) Harding of Mankato, MN, One sister-in-law Jean Lukens of Memphis TN and One brother-in-law: Charles "Chili" (Pat) Lindgren of Elgin, ILSeveral nieces and nephews. PRECEDED He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Warren G. Harding.VISITATION / FUNERAL His visitation will be held Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 4-8pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 10:30am at the Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hanson Rd., Lily Lake, IL. The Rev. Ernst Rex will officiate and interment will follow at Lily Lake Cemetery, Rt. 47, Lily Lake.MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Bill’s name to benefit the Grace Lutheran Church and other favorite local charities. Memorials checks may be made to the William Harding Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call 630-365-6414 or 1-800-8-CONLEY.

VISITATION / FUNERAL His visitation will be held Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 4-8pm at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 10:30am at the Grace Lutheran Church, 5N600 Hanson Rd., Lily Lake, IL. The Rev. Ernst Rex will officiate and interment will follow at Lily Lake Cemetery, Rt. 47, Lily Lake.MEMORIAL In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Bill’s name to benefit the Grace Lutheran Church and other favorite local charities. Memorials checks may be made to the William Harding Memorial and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, IL 60119. Tributes and memories may also be forwarded to the family at the same address or through his obituary at www.conleycare.com. For information call 630-365-6414 or 1-800-8-CONLEY.