Obituaries

William H. Pilger

July 17th, 1939 – January 1st, 2023

William “Bill” H. Pilger, age 83 of Ipava, Illinois, passed away at 9:10 am on Sunday, January 1, 2023 at McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Illinois. He was born on July 17, 1939 in Chandlerville, Illinois, the son of Russell and Frances (Hopping) Pilger. Bill married Nancy M. Hicke on July 17, 1959 in Astoria, Illinois. She survives.

Also surviving are his daughter Sherry (and Tom) Worrall of Pekin, Illinois, two sons Terry Pilger and Teressa Bortell of Decatur, Illinois and Brian (and Sabrina) Pilger of Macomb, Illinois, seven grandchildren; Travis (and Bonnie) Gilmore, Jessica (and Andy) Daum, Kaitlyn Worrall, Christopher Pilger, Joseph (and Amanda) Pilger, Weston (and Miri) Roberts and Kaileigh (and Connor) O’Banion, ten great-grandchildren; Austin, Emma, Amelia, Evan, Owen, Silas, Hudson, Eloise, James and Nolan, one sisters, Clara Mae Hilberer of Springfield, Illinois and three brothers; Russell (and Sheila) Pilger of Peoria, Illinois, Robert (and Phyllis) Pilger of Browning, Illinois and Steve Pilger of Havana, Illinois.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Violet Powell and Judy Yeager.

As his health permitted, he regularly attended church. He was a faithful follower of, and tireless witness for Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

He first worked for Cassidy Farms in Table Grove, Illinois. He later went to work as supervisor for Pioneer Hybrids in Good Hope, Illinois, retiring in 2001. While working for Pioneer, he traveled to Argentina and Chile in the winter of 1988-1989 where he helped set-up their seed corn operations.

Bill served on the VIT School Board from 1974 to 1981.

He loved people and never knew a stranger. He enjoyed NASCAR, especially Jeff Gordon. Bill also enjoyed bicycling and he loved to fish.

Services will be held on Friday, January 6th at 11:00 am at the Macomb Church of the Nazarene in Macomb, Illinois. Reverend Judy Davenport will officiate. Visitation will take place on Thursday, January 5th from 4-7 pm at Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Bill’s memory to the Macomb Church of the Nazarene or Illinois Cancer Care. Cremation rites will take place after the service with interment in the Ipava Cemetery, Ipava, Illinois, at a later date.

Condolences

January 1st, 2023

So sorry to hear this. He loved his family so much.
Carole Derry

January 1st, 2023

So sorry for your loss Anita Fitzjarrald Snyder

January 1st, 2023

So sorry for the families loss,Bill was one of the nicest people I had ever met Jo Chenoweth

January 1st, 2023

Sincerest condolences to the entire family from the family of Dorothy Weaver, formerly of Table Grove, IL.

January 1st, 2023

Love and prayers for you all during this difficult time. Meredith and Lucille Kepple

January 1st, 2023

May God grant you peace and comfort in the days ahead.
Jean Roley, formerly of Macomb

January 2nd, 2023

So sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with your family.
Heather Asher

January 2nd, 2023

So sorry to hear about Bill. I have so many memories and have spent so much time with him. He was like a dad to me during the pioneer years. My sincere condolences to the family. Alan Caldwell

January 2nd, 2023

Prayers for Nancy, and all of Bill's family. God is the God of all Comfort 2Cor 1:3. God will bring His comfort to all who are saddened by Bill's passing. Tim and Marilyn Hicke

January 2nd, 2023

So sorry for your families loss. Bill was a the nicest man. Prayers and hugs. Becky and Don Watson

January 2nd, 2023

So sorry to hear about Bills passing. I remember him when I was little.. Always was a great guy..Prayers sent to his family Vicky Ackley

January 2nd, 2023

So sorry to hear about Bill. Bob and I worked for Pioneer and enjoyed working with Bill in the fields. We worked for many years with his son, Terry. Prayers for all of the family during this difficult time.

January 2nd, 2023

As nice of a man as you'll ever meet. Our prayers for Nancy and family.

January 2nd, 2023

I worked with Bill when the Pioneer Plant at Good Hope was built in 1981. He was a dandy. He ran the detasseling for a big area we had by Table Grove. He did a great job and had the best work ethic. He also ran our husk and sort operation that had a lot of fall seasonal workers with plenty of challenge dealing with the people which he was really good doing. Thinking back, he was a calming voice to we other younger people learning the trade. When I moved to Iowa he and Travis Inman came out a couple times to visit which was fun to see them.

January 2nd, 2023

He was a nice guy. Rest in peace.

January 2nd, 2023

So very sorry to hear about Bill. We grew up in the same neighborhood, and I have many fond memories of all the Pilger Family. Thinking of you all with heartfelt sympathy, and many prayers for comfort and peace. Gary & Cheryl (Cox) Matteson

January 2nd, 2023

So sorry to hear about Bill. I got to know him at the Pioneer plant and then at the Nazarene Church. Always had a smile and a wonderful to be around. Prayers to Nancy and family. Steve Birch

January 2nd, 2023

Sorry to hear about Bill! Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family!
Wayne Demott

January 2nd, 2023

Remembering Papa Bill and sending condolences to all the Pilgers and especially Nancy. Sending my love and thoughts to all. Jayme Larson Bubb

January 2nd, 2023

Praying for you and your family!

January 2nd, 2023

Sorry to hear about Bill he was a great man worked with him at pioneer prayer to the family. Annie Beekman

January 2nd, 2023

Thoughts and Prayers are with the Family, Gaylon and Brianna Malott

January 2nd, 2023

Hugs and prayers to all. Maybe Lloyd and Bill are talking seed corn business now.

January 2nd, 2023

Sorry for your loss. Prayers for peace and comfort during this time. Kathy (Ellison) Watson

January 2nd, 2023

Sherry, Terry and Brian sorry for your loss he was a great man Rodney Beck VIT class of 1980 and retired US Navy.

January 3rd, 2023

We are sorry for your loss. Prayers for comfort and strength. Bob and Melba Baker

January 3rd, 2023

Our prayers go out to the family we are sorry to hear of your loss hugs and prayers

January 3rd, 2023

Our prayers go out to the family we are sorry to hear of your loss hugs and prayers Randy&Brenda Stambaugh

January 3rd, 2023

Thinking of you and your family, Nancy. So sorry to hear this. Kathy Hickle

January 3rd, 2023

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you . I have such beautiful memories of Bill and I am so thankful for that time we all shared . May each of you feel God’s presence even more right now . Love you all so much . Leann Hicke -Rice

January 3rd, 2023

The Pioneer family at Good Hope lost a good friend.

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry for your loss, Sending my Thoughts & Prayers for all of the Family's. Sue Palmer & Family's

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry to hear about Bill. Prayers for his family. Ed and Mary Wherley

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry to hear this. Arthur (Averill) Churchill

January 3rd, 2023

Such a nice man! My condolences to his family.

Bambi Burgard

January 3rd, 2023

Our thoughts and prayers to the family
Steve & Pam Butler

January 3rd, 2023

A good guy who always had a smile, Bill will be missed by many. Our condolences and prayers are for his family. John & Sandy Bybee

January 3rd, 2023

Such a wonderful man!…my heart hurts for all of you, and God knows your pain…may you each cherish his memory and those special times spent together!…praying for your peace and your understanding during this tough time!…Samantha Miller Klinedinst

January 3rd, 2023

We are sorry for your loss. Bill was a wonderful person and friend. Sending prayers and love to Nancy and her family.Bill truly will be missed.Bill look after Bryan he thought a lot of you. Randy and Brenda Vaughn

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry for your loss! Tammy Moose Horsley

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers to Bill's family.
Mike and Linda Blemler

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry to hear this
He was a Classmate

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry for your loss. May you feel God's love and comfort during this difficult time. Rodney and Theresa Keefauver

January 3rd, 2023

So sorry for your loss. Prayers for your family
Sally Atwater

January 3rd, 2023

Bill was a great guy, my prayers are with all of his family. Todd Carithers

January 4th, 2023

Very sorry for your loss

January 4th, 2023

Sorry to hear this We were in same class at VI T. Avery nice person.

January 4th, 2023

Thoughts and prayers to all of his family. He was a amazing guy to work with and get to know. I worked with him at Pioneer and will remember him always. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

January 4th, 2023

My name is David Roddis I left the last message. Want his family to know I was thinking about them.

January 4th, 2023

I am honored to have served with Bill at Pioneer for 30 years. He was a great leader of our team. Always had a story to help us laugh. Always had a way to relate to all in every situation. We were blessed by him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill’s family. Rick Battles

January 4th, 2023

Nancy and family, so sorry to hear of Bill's passing. He was a great guy the recent years that we had known him. May the love of family and friends heip you in this time of great sorrow. Roger and Phyllis Grover

January 5th, 2023

Thoughts & Peayers to Nancy, Brian & Sabrina and family. Nancy Morrison

January 5th, 2023

We are so sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing God Speed!
Pete and Dee Egleton

January 5th, 2023

We loved this man! He a just the kindest, honest man we've had the pleasure of knowing. Love, Jack and Lin Myers

January 5th, 2023

I worked with Bill at the Pioneer Good Hope facility for 12 years. Great guy, always positive and friendly. We had some good times together, wish I could have stayed in closer contact with him!

March 20th, 2023

I’m so sorry to hear of Bill’s passing, I worked for him at Pioneers...was a great boss