Wilbur Bankord

WILBUR M. 'WILLIE' BANKORD, 82 ROCKFORD - Wilbur M. "Willie" Bankord, 82, of Rockford died at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, at his daughter's home. Born Dec. 28, 1928, in Hibbing, Minn., son of William and Ellen (Johnson) Bankord. Graduate of East High School class of 1948. Served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He married Joanne O. Freeman on Aug. 28, 1953, in Rockford; she died March 16, 2006. Willie represented various real estate agencies as an agent for 53 years. Member of First Evangelical Free Church, where he sang in the male chorus for 25 years, participated in the Christian Businessmen's Group and was a Gideon volunteer. He was also a volunteer for many years at the Rockford Rescue Mission. He was an avid Cubs fan, Green Bay Packers fan and golfer. He enjoyed his weekly outing with a competitive group of 10 to 12 golfers, meeting at various golf courses for more than 30 years. Willie also loved camping and traveling with his wife. He is survived by children, Kathy (Kim) Andersen of Roscoe and Kurt (Charna) Bankord of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandchildren, Teah and Nathan Andersen; great-grandchildren, Brennan and Kaylee Andersen; sisters, Beatrice Hospkinson of Salem, Ore., Betty Blake of Belvidere, and Bonnie Murphy of Klamath Falls, Ore.; brothers, Aden Bankord of Lake Mills, Wis., Eugene (Cleo) Bankord of Belvidere and Larry (Pat) Bankord of Rockford; many nieces and nephews. Also predeceased by brothers, Howard and Gordon; and sisters, Hazel and Beverly. Memorial service at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, in the chapel at First Evangelical Free Church, 2223 N. Mulford Road, with the Rev. Chuck Rife officiating. Memorial visitation from 10 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service in the chapel. Memorials may be made to the family or to Northern Illinois Hospice and Grief Center, 4215 Newburg Road, Rockford IL 61108. Arrangements by Olson Funeral & Cremation Services, Ltd., 1001 Second Ave. To share a memory or condolence, please visit olsonfh.com.