William Tinsley
William Tinsley, 75, of Colfax passed away at 3:10 p.m., on Sep. 14 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center, Bloomington.
Cremation will be accorded. Services will be held at a later date in Lebanon.
Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Colfax is in charge of arrangements.
The family suggests that memorials may be made to Ridgeview High School Athletic Boosters or to his son William Tinsley IV.
William was born to William and Ethel Gates Tinsley on Oct. 9, 1939 in Brooklyn, Ill. He grew up the oldest of three children. He attended the metro schools of Hughes, Quinn and Lincoln. He graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy. Early into his career William was the police chief of Brooklyn Il, and Deputy Sheriff of St. Clair County. William became Director of Security of the Cahokia School District where he served for over 30 years before his retirement in 1997.
William married Bryce Harper and together they raised six children. Michael Harper. Roy Harper, Sharon Harper, William Tinsley III, and Lance Tinsley. William was blessed with his last child William Tinsley IV in 1996.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bryce Tinsley, brother, Maurice Tinsley, daughter Royce Harper, and sons Shannon and Tony Harper.
William is survived by William Tinsley IV of Colfax, Lance Tinsley (Jennifer) of Colfax, William Tinsley III of Shiloh, IL, Michael Harper Madison, Ill., Roy Harper East St. Louis, Ill., daughter Sharon Harper Cahokia, Ill., and brother Ted Tinsley of East St. Louis.
William had 19 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
William enjoyed his retirement moving to Colfax in 2000. He was an avid Ridgeview High School sports fan. One of his greatest joys in life was watching the Mustangs and his son William win 3rd place in IHSA state tournament.
He enjoyed doing yard work and spending time with his family.
The family is deeply grateful to all the staff at Heritage of Colfax, Asta Care Center of Colfax, and Arba Center of Colfax.
Condolences and tributes may be made to the family at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.
Myron Willke
Myron G. Willke, retired Assistant Vice President, Data Processing, State Farm, 94, of Bloomington passed away at 8:55 p.m. on Sep. 14 at his residence.
His funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington. Pastor Brian Goke and Pastor Christine McNeal will be officiating.
Burial will be St. John’s Lutheran Church Cemetery, Anchor, Ill. Visitation will be 4:00-8:00 p.m. Saturday at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington and from 1:00-2:00 p.m. Sunday at the church.
The family suggests memorials be made to Claire House, Home Sweet Home Ministries, The American Diabetes’s Assoc, The Arthritis Foundation, Mayo Clinic Foundation or St. Johns Lutheran Church, Bloomington.
Myron was born Dec.17, 1920 in Anchor to Clarence and Alvina Fasking Willke. He married Freda F. Payne on April 10, 1943 in Collingswood, New Jersey. She passed away March 23, 1998. Later he married Ruth Krone Faulkner on Sep. 5, 1999 in Bloomington. She survives.
Also surviving are three children, Dr. Theodore (Sue) Willke, Sewickley, Penn., Col. Ronald (Linda) Willke, (USAF Ret) Poplar Grove, Ill., Jeanette (James) Vyduna, Johnsburg, Ill.; seven grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; one brother,
Marvin (Iva Rose) Willke, Anchor.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother Warren Willke
Mr Willke attended Anchor High School played on the Varsity baseball and basketball teams and graduated as Co-Valedictorian. He attended the University of Illinois on a full scholarship, graduated Beta Gamma Sigma with two professions; Industrial Engineer and Accountant. He worked at RCA, Camden, New Jersey as an Industrial Engineer. He did further graduate work at both the University of Pennsylvania (Meteorology) and the University of Indiana (Law).
A life threatening blood disease, discovered by U.S. Army doctor in Trenton, New Jersey while applying for an Officer’s Commission, prevented Mr. Willke from joining the U. S. Services and ultimately forced him to resign at RCA. Besides this blood disease, he survived three other life threatening occurrences including cancer during his lifetime.
After leaving RCA, Mr. Willke managed two grain and lumber companies before joining State Farm in 1947. During a 34 year career at State Farm Mutual, he designed the company’s first computer data processing system and founded its Data Processing Department, initially named the Electronic Data Processing Research Division.
He met every president of State Farm including its founder George Mecherle. Upon his retirement in 1980 he wrote the book “Electronic Marvels at State Farm Mutual” describing the history of computers and their use at State Farm. Perhaps his most appreciated honor was to be elected to the Data Processing Hall of Fame.
He was a pioneering member of several computer organizations including Guide International, the Association of Computer Machinery, and the Data Processing Management Association. He was a founding member of SCUSERS, the State farm Computer Club and the Round Table Retiree Club of retired State Farm executives which met weekly from 1980 until the present.
During his lifetime, Mr. Willke was active in local civic, church and charitable activities including being past President of the Normal Lions Club. In 2003 he received the Melvin Jones Fellow award from the Lions International Foundation for dedicated humanitarian services. In1980 he also received from the Lions International Foundation the organizations award for the highest percentage membership increase of any Lions Club nationwide, over 100 percent.
Other activities included the United Way, Golden K. Kiwanis Club, Sunday school teach and charter member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He served at various roles at the St. John’s Lutheran Churches of Anchor and Bloomington, and the Ebenezer Lutheran Church of Indianapolis, Indiana. He was a Lifetime Member of the Bloomington Elks until they ceased TO FUNCTION. Mr. Willke was a Gallery Interpreter for the McLean County Historic Society.
An avid Cubs fan, University of Illinois sports fan, and golfer, Mr. Willke played golf all over the states, in Europe, and on islands in the Gulf of Mexico. He especially enjoyed his country home with its open spaces, occasional visits of wild animals and a wide variety of birds. He had a great zest for life, its challenges and daily events.
Mr. Willke recorded his daily activities in a diary which he maintained continuously from the age of 14 until his death. Mr. Willke truly had a full, healthy life of over 90 years and was very grateful to his creator for that special privilege. He had a special love for his wives, families and friends.
Please view the obituary and share your condolences and memories online at www.calvertmemorial.com.
