William A. "Bill" Hollerman

1931 - 2024

William A. "Bill" Hollerman passed away on Aug. 22, 2024, at Franciscan Hospital, Lafayette, with his loving family by his side.

Bill was born on April 26,1931, in Ellwood City, Pa., to Earl and Elnor Hollerman.

Bill was raised on a farm by his grandparents William and Vina Bradford. He attended American #1, a one-room school and graduated from Zelienople High School in 1949. Bill enlisted in the Army in 1949 and retired in 1970 as a Command Sargent Major. During those 21 years he was trained in medical laboratory technology, and was stationed at Fort Dix, N.J.; Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich.; Fort Custer, Mich.; Camp McCoy, Wis.; William Beaumont General Hospital, El Paso Texas; Chicago, Ill.; Fort Chaffee, Ark.; 7th Infantry Division, Korea; Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Fort Belvoir, Va.; Fort Carson, Colo.; St Louis; Chitose, Japan: and Fort Lewis Seattle Wash.

In 1951, Bill married Joan DeHahn. Together, they had four children, Andrew (Lynn) Hollerman, Carol (Jim) Minter, Holly (Kevin) Rea and Michael Hollerman. They were married 47 years. They also provided safe care for 10 foster children. Bill graduated from Indiana University.

Following his Army retirement, Bill worked five years as head of the laboratory at Fulton County Hospital, Rochester and came to Rensselaer to Jasper County Hospital retiring in 2006 as Executive Vice President. Bill continued at the hospital as Director of AlternaCare Assisted Living until 2013. Bill was loved by his fellow co-workers as he believed in "management by walking around", treating employees fairly and provided candy on pay day.

In 1999 Bill married Dianne Faker Schuette and was very happy to gain two new daughters, Nikki (Cory) Melchi and Heidi (Dave) Leeper. Bill and Dianne traveled through most of the United States as well as China, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, the Bahama Islands and the Caribbean Islands, Canada, Mexico, Straits of Gibraltar, Tangiers, Africa, and the Panama Canal. Each day Bill expressed if he woke up it would be a good day.

During his years in Rensselaer, Bill was co-founder of the Good Samaritan Food Pantry, served on the George Ade Board of Directors, served as President of the Board for the Senior Center, been very active in St. Augustine Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, worked as Sexton of Mount Calvary Cemetery, volunteered as a CASA for 14 years, delivered Meals on Wheels, and retired from the City Council last year after serving 23 ½ years.

Bill's favorite status in life was being Grandpa Bill to William (Ashley), Brooke and Maverick Minter, Liz (Kira) Hollerman, Alex Hollerman (Corey Guidry), Juniper Guidry, Maggie Hollerman, Cannon, Brinley and Fielder Melchi, and Reegan, Rylan, Reesa, Reid, Rachel, and Ryder Leeper. He loved sitting on the sidelines cheering them to success.

Bill is well known for always having candy in his pocket to give to anyone he determines "has been good staying off the streets and out of the taverns." He believed," there are no problems in life only challenges and opportunities. "

Also surviving are Bill's brothers, Larry (Barb) and Jerry (Mary Ann) Hollerman. He loved and was loved by his nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; wife, Joan; daughter, Holly; and sister, Maxine.

Friends are invited to visit with the family on Monday, Aug. 26 from 2 – 7 p.m. at Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer. Rosary services will start the visitation at 2 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine Catholic Church with Father Dennis Faker and Father Joshua Bennett officiating.

Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery with full Military Rites afforded.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St Augustine Church or the Good Samaritan Food Pantry.

The family would like to sincerely thank Rensselaer and Lafayette Franciscan Health for the wonderful, care Bill received. Thank you to the physicians who lovingly cared for Bill, Dr. Andrew Krutul, Dr. Day, Dr. Arshad Hussain, Dr. Manish Jain, and Wanda Gifford, NP.