William B. "Bill" McIlravy

ORD - William B. "Bill" McIlravy, 87 of Ord died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, at his home in Ord.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ord. Father Tom Ryan will officiate. Interment will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Military Honors will be presented by the Ord VFW Post #7029 and American Legion Post #38.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday with a rosary at 7 p.m. at the Ord Memorial Chapel. Ord Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

William Brown McIlravy was born April 28, 1923, at Santa Monica, Calif. to Thomas William and Edith Elinor (Brown) McIlravy.

Survivors include his wife, Joanie of Ord; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Will and Dawn of San Diego, Calif., Tim and Dawn of York and Kevin of Ord; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Carolyn McIlravy of York, Carrie and Lee Osberg of Pierre, S.D., Mary and Bill Thomas of York and Susan and Roger Hall of Exeter; 11 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren; one great-grandchild, two expectant great-grandchildren; and 5 step great-grandchildren.

At the age of 8, Bill moved to Loup City where he lived with his grandparents, the W.O. Brown's on a farm south of Loup City. He lived there until 1942, during the years of the depression. Bill attended grade school at Hawk Rural School, south of Loup City and graduated from Loup City High School in 1941.

Bill joined the United States Army and was in the MP's. After his service in the Army he began working for the Bureau of Reclamation.

On Dec. 26, 1953, William was united in marriage to Emma Joan "Joanie" Robarchek at St. Patrick's Church in McCook. To this union seven children were born.

Bill was employed with the Bureau of Reclamation for 40 years working and living in McCook, Culbertson, Kansas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. For the past 32 years they have made their home in Ord. Bill retired on March 1, 1985.

He was a member of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and VFW. Bill enjoyed tinkering in his garage, and caring for the yard. He especially enjoyed visiting with his neighbors and friend, Bill Long. He loved his grandchildren and was very proud of them.

Survivors include his wife, Joanie of Ord; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Will and Dawn of San Diego, CA, Tim and Dawn of York, NE and Kevin of Ord; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Carolyn McIlravy of York, NE, Carrie and Lee Osberg of Pierre, South Dakota, Mary and Bill Thomas of York and Susan and Roger Hall of Exeter, NE; 11 grandchildren, 3 step grandchildren; one great-grandchild, two expectant great-grandchildren; and 5 step great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Richard McIlravy.

Memorials are suggested to the Valley County Hospice, St. Mary's Catholic School or Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.

Please sign the guestbook at www.theindependent.com/obits