William "Bill" Reiling

William (Bill) Reiling went to be with the Lord on June 27, 2023 at Winn Prairie, Freeport, IL, two weeks after his 93rd birthday.
Bill was born on June 13th 1930 at home in Coe Township in rural Port Byron, IL to Vernon and Thelma (Wells) Reiling. He attended several one room schoolhouses in grade school and graduated from Lanark, IL high school in 1948. He helped on the farm and was a meat cutter in Chadwick, IL before being drafted. Bill met his future spouse, Marian Newendyke, at a roller rink in Sterling, IL. She was impressed by him but also by his new 1953 Bel Air Chevy. Bill was always very proud to serve his country by serving in the Army. He served with a SCARWAF unit of the Army Corp of Engineers at the Itazuki Airforce Base in Japan from 1954-1955, right after the Korean War. He was a road grader and helped build an airfield for B-52 bombers and sabre jets. He also served as a jeep driver. After returning to Illinois, Bill and Marian were married at the Reformed Church in Sterling, IL on August 1st, 1956. They moved from Prophetstown, IL to Waddams Grove, IL. Bill raised cattle and grain farmed for over 40 years.
Bill and Marian had two daughters, Laurie (Butch) Broughton of Freeport, IL and Lynne (Dennis "Denny") Lake of Lena, IL. Grandchildren are Andrew "Andy" Lake and his little family, Felicia and Skylar of Lexington, KY, Angela "Angie" Lake of Madison, WI and Asa Lake of Orlando, FL.
Bill was a loving family man and was very involved in his children's and grandchildren's lives. He enjoyed attending their sporting events, speech events and plays. He raised alpacas and sold pumpkins with his family. He also had a wry sense of humor and played many practical jokes on his family. Bill and Marian enjoyed many trips to Orlando, FL in the winter. They also traveled to Hawaii, Nova Scotia, Canada and the Panama Canal. Bill once took a business trip to British Honduras (now Belize) and flew in a Cesna 150 with National Geographic. Bill owned land near the Jane Addams Trail and was proud to be able to donate 13 acres for the Jane Addams Trailhead. Bill received his real estate license and also built, remodeled and/or restored homes, apartment buildings and barns in Stephenson and Carroll counties. Bill loved old Ford cars and rebuilt a 1907 Ford Model R and also had a 1908 Ford Model S. He won 2nd place for cars 1908 or earlier during the Old Car Festival in Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum in 2011. Bill was recently honored as a 70 year member of the Lena Masonic Lodge. He was also a member of the Lena Lions and the Lena American Legion for many years. Bill was a current member of Harmony United Methodist Church. Bill and Marian enjoyed 64 years together. He was a loving husband and a wonderful family man and friend. He will be sorely missed by all that knew him.
Bill is survived by his children, grandchildren, brother Ronald (Janet) Reiling, sister-in-law Mary Newendyke, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ernie and Carol Eads, sister-in-law Barbara Newendyke and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by special friend, Shirley McLeroy.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Marian and his parents.
A service will be held at Leamon Funeral Home in Lena, IL on Friday, June 30th with Pastor Eddie Eddy of Harmony UMC.
Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until time of service at 11:00 AM.
After the service, there will be a graveside ceremony at the Lena Burial Park.
A luncheon will follow at Harmony United Methodist Church, Freeport, IL.
Special thanks to FHN Hospice, Winn Prairie staff and Dr. Miller.
A memorial has been established for FHN Hospice and Harmony United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be sent to the family at leamonfh.com.
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