William T. "Bill" Hunter

William T. (Bill) Hunter, age 89, of Glen Carbon, Illinois passed away peacefully at home with his wife Mimi and family at his side. He lost his battle with esophageal cancer after being diagnosed 8 months ago.

Bill was born in St. Louis on October 14, 1936. He graduated from Baden Grade School and Beaumont High School in St. Louis and went on to receive a BA degree from Washington University in St. Louis. He and the former Madeleine (Mimi) Nebel were married at Holy Family Catholic Church in Cahokia, Illinois on October 1, 1977.

As a young boy, Bill's passion for airplanes became very prominent. His father taught him to build small planes and fly them with his friends. His love of airplanes carried over into his working years as he later earned a private pilot's license and spent his entire working career at McDonnell-Douglas, now Boeing. He retired as a Senior Project Engineer after 32 years of service.

Bill had many hobbies. Besides building and flying model airplanes, he was a meticulous craftsman and built beautiful model ships worthy of museum display. He also owned a restored classic 1955 Ford Thunderbird and enjoyed cruising with Mimi at his side. He and Mimi moved to Ormond Beach, Florida for 5 years, and there he added a Harley Davidson motorcycle which they both enjoyed riding along A1A, parallel to the beach where they shared their love of sunrises and sunsets. Bill was a member of the East Side RC Flying Club and the Classic Thunderbird Club of St. Louis, Missouri.

Bill was an active and long-time member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville, Illinois.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William T. and Ida M. (Fricke) Hunter, brothers-in-law Michael C. Reis and Oliver D. Joseph.

Surviving are his loving wife and best friend of 48 years, Mimi (Madeleine M.) Hunter of Glen Carbon, Illinois; his brother-in-law, Herman (Eileen) Nebel of St. Louis, Missouri; his sister-in-law, Kathleen "Kitty" Reis of Maryville, Tennessee; Jo Ellen (Myron) Vanatta of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jean M. Joseph of Belleville, Illinois. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to St. Boniface Catholic Church (Edwardsville), Hospice of Southern Illinois (Belleville) or a Food Pantry of your choice.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00am, Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at St. Boniface Catholic Church. Family will receive friends from 9:30am to 11:00am at the church.

Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon, Illinois.

The family is being served by Sunset Hill Funeral Home, 50 Fountain Drive, Glen Carbon, Illinois 62034.