William Reed

WILLIAM T. "Bill" REED, age 97, of Elgin, passed away at his home, surrounded by the love and prayers of his family, on Sunday, May 4, 2014.Bill was born on May 24, 1916, in Browntown, IA, a small rural town that now lives only in the past. He grew up in Oskaloosa and attended local schools. Following his schooling, Bill found work in Aurora, IL at the Aurora Equipment Company as a shipping clerk. Bill found his "million dollar baby" in the aisle of the Aurora 5 and 10 store. Though technically there was no return policy, Bill never needed it as he and Kathleen Justman were united in marriage on March 29 1941. They began their new life together in Aurora for a time. A scant few months later, Bill enlisted in the United States Army on June 19, 1941. He proudly served his country and lived on base with his new bride on Fort Frances E. Warren, in Cheyenne, WY. There they welcomed two daughters, Sue Ann and Sandra. His honorable discharge came on October 12, 1945. Returning to his Illinois roots, Bill and his growing family moved to Wooddale, IL, where they were blessed with another daughter, Connie. Bill worked as manager of Wooddale Lumber. Later he would build a home in Itasca where their family was completed with the arrival Lisa in 1962. They would make thirty years of memories, filling their home with laughter and love before building their "retirement home" in Elgin, making a place for more unforgettable memories to be made. After leaving Wooddale Lumber, Bill began his own construction company, William Thomas Construction, and would build several apartment buildings that he later managed as well as many family homes. Later, he entered the world of realty and Reed Realty and Associates was born. There was no formal date of retirement as it was a gradual process that lasted well into his 70’s. A self-made man with no formal education, Bill graduated with honors from the school of "Hard Knocks". If Bill didn’t know something, he worked until he was the best. He was a man with a friendly smile and a firm handshake that could walk into a room and walk out with ten new friends. Bill never turned his back on his fellow man and his heart was always open to those in need, often offering food and shelter to those less fortunate. Over the years, Bill became a better fisherman than hunter but he enjoyed them both. Word on the street was that he was fantastic at jumping rope to boot! Later he became enamored with model trains and collected coins. His number one priority was always his family. Bill dedicated himself to become the best husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather one would ever meet. Every decision he every made was for the betterment of his family. He is survived by his loving daughters: Sandra (Ted) Rood Connie Cunningham and Lisa (Carl) Schumann;Four grandchildren:David (Jenna Mazeikis) Rood,Jennifer Salter, Sarah (Daniel) Kruse and William Schumann;Three great-grandchildren:Danielle (Jon) Schmitz and their daughter, Lillyann,Jimmy Pagor and Wesley Kruse;Many nieces, nephews, cousins and a countryside of good friends. He is preceded in death by his wife Kathleen V. "Kitty" Reed and one daughter Sue Ann Reed. Visitation will be from 10-11:30 a.m. with a funeral service to follow visitation, Friday, May 9, 2014, at Conley Funeral Home, 116 W. Pierce St., Elburn, IL 60119. Interment will follow at St. Michaels The Archangel Cemetery, Palatine, IL. A memorial has been established in his name. Checks may be made to the "William Reed Memorial" and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address or on the web at www.conleycare.com.