Joseph William “Bill” Spencer, 90, of Gays, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2017 at the Heartland Christian Village. The visitation will be at the Lovins-Lockart Funeral Home, Windsor at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 3, 2017. The funeral service will follow the visitation at 11:00 A.M. at the funeral home. The burial will be at the Windsor cemetery with military rites by the Windsor American Legion Post #725.
Bill was born in rural route Windsor, Illinois on August 28, 1926, a son of Omer and Lucy Spencer. He married Rose Marie Edwards on Dec. 26, 1950; they were married for 56 years until her death in 2007. Special friend Marilyn Smith is of Mattoon. Bill graduated from Windsor Community High School before enlisting in the Navy. Bill proudly served his country while stationed in Guam during World War II. After the war ended, he enrolled and graduated from the University of Illinois. After marrying Rose Marie, they moved to Mattoon in 1952. He was employed by the Illinois Department of Labor until 1955, when he joined the Blaw Knox Construction Company as Assistant Industrial Relations Manager. In 1957, he was promoted to Manager of Industrial Relations and remained in that position until his retirement on January 1, 1988. During his tenure, he was a member of the Illinois Manufacturer Association and served on the State Industrial Relations committee, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and the Mattoon Association of Commerce, serving on various labor committees. He was appointed by Governor Jim Thompson to the Illinois Private Industry Council where he served as chairman. He was also selected as a team member by Illinois State Department of Education to review high schools and make recommendations concerning facilities and instructors. Bill was also director of the Illinois Association of District Drainage. He was a member of the Windsor American Legion Post #725 for 57 years, and he was also a long- time member of the Illinois Farm Bureau. Bill was on the first Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Upon retirement, he and his wife, Rose Marie, moved to their farm in Gays, Illinois. Bill enjoyed his retirement years on the farm.
He was preceded in death by his wife Rose Marie Spencer (2007) and daughter Brenda Marie Flynn (2012). Surviving are his son, Kent Spencer and wife Kathy (Vahling) Spencer of St. Charles, Illinois, and son-in-law, Jim Flynn of Franklin, Illinois. Grandchildren include Cynthia Baumann, Spencer Baumann, Kendall Baumann, Austin Flynn, Luke Spencer, and Megan Spencer, and six great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the caring staff at Heartland Christian Village and Sarah Bush Lincolnland Hospice for their dedication and compassionate care.
Memorials may be made to the Windsor American Legion Post #725. Bill’s family invites friends to share a story or light a candle in his honor at www.lockartgreenfuneralhome.com