Date of Birth
Aug 01,1927
Date of Death
Feb 19,2005
William G. Needham, age 77, of Phoenix, AZ, formerly of Maple Park, IL, passed away Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005 after a long a courageous battle with cancer.He was born August, 1, 1927, in DeKalb, IL, the son of Fred B. and Blanche (Larson) Needham. The family made their home in Maple Park where Bill attended local schools graduating from Maple Park High School with the class of 1945.In August of 1945, Bill entered the U.S. Navy, however a battle with Rheumatic fever cut short his service time and he returned home to Maple Park within the year. He began working for his father in the blacksmith shop for a time before being appointed Postmaster of the Maple Park Post Office in 1954. He continued in that role for nearly thirty years until his retirement on October 28, 1983.Bill was united in marriage to Virginia Ellen Luther on June 23, 1951, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in St. Charles, IL. They made their home in Maple Park and were blessed with two sons, Fred and Roger. Bill enjoyed gardening and was particularly fond of the glorious, red Chrysler Imperial rose, though roses didn’t like his yard and would not flourish there. Fruit trees, however grew and produced a bounty of fruit. He was a member of the National Association of Postmasters for 30 years; a 60 year member of the Maple Park American Legion Post #312 and a volunteer on the Maple Park Fire Department from the time he was seventeen years old until his Postmaster duties would no longer allow him to leave town in response to fire calls. In 2003, Bill converted to Catholicism with the support of Monsignor William Clausen.He is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Virginia, of Phoenix, AZ; two sons, Fred (Melody) Needham of Maple Park, IL and Roger (Terry) Needham of St. Charles, IL; five grandchildren: Chad (Michelle) Needham of Sycamore, IL, Mark Needham of Maple Park, IL, Dustin Needham, Corey and Cale Marshall, all of St. Charles, IL; one great-grandson, Jonathan Needham of Sycamore, IL; four sisters: Martha Wallis of DeKalb, IL, Alice (Spence) Smith of Davis, IL, Charlotte Clark of DeKalb, IL and Linda (Jerome) Rubeck of Genoa, IL, many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Donald Needham.
Visitation will be held at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, Friday Feb. 25 from 4-8 p.m. with a wake service to be held at 5 p.m. A mass to celebrate his life will be held Saturday, Feb. 26 at 10:30 a.m. at The Church of St. Mary, Maple Park, with a visitation from 9:30 a.m.until time of service.
Committal service will be immediately following mass.