William Daniel Wilson, Bill to his colleagues and peers and “Tippy” or “Joe” to his West Virginia relatives, entered into rest on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at his home. He could often be found tinkering in his garage singing along with his 8-track radio. He enjoyed fixing friends’ and neighbors’ electronics and appliances. He loved spending time with his kids and grandkids, taking them sightseeing all over the country in one of his many Dodge family vans. He always looked forward to the annual Grotts family float trip, which he helped start 35-plus years ago. He never knew a stranger; they were only friends he hadn’t met yet. Spending the last 10 winters in Texas, he enjoyed playing cards, singing karaoke and going to dances with special friends and neighbors while staying warm. He also spent many hours reading and studying history and genealogy.
Bill graduated from Kingwood High School in 1961. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served for 10 years from 1961-1971. He was in heavy ground radar during those years, trained in Biloxi, Miss. He was then stationed in Texas, Iran, Ramstein, Germany, Montana and Alaska. Upon leaving the Air Force, he enrolled in West Virginia University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing. While in college, he worked in the white-water rafting industry and taught courses in electronics and electricity in the public schools in Preston County. A job brought Bill to Illinois, where he adopted the state as his own. He went on to Belleville Area College (now SWIC) to earn a degree in ACHR. He subsequently was the instructor of the ACHR program at Menard Correctional Center through the BAC program. He continued to work there until an opening for the coordinator/instructor of the program opened up, bringing him back to the main campus at the college where he remained until retiring in 1999. During that time, he earned a master’s degree in occupational education from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill.
Upon retiring, he became interested in the War of 1812 and genealogy. He was instrumental in building a replica of Hill’s Fort in Greenville, Ill. He spent many years building and restoring the fort, alongside some very dedicated history friends. Hill’s Fort is a remarkable replica for the public to visit and enjoy. By way of his interest in genealogy, he traced his wife’s heritage back to the first 18 families that settled in the territory, which became Illinois after the Revolutionary War. This prompted him to write one of his six books “The Grotts/Seybold Family Heritage: Early Illinois Pioneers.”
Bill was a lifetime member and past president of the Hill’s Fort Society, a member of the General George Rogers Clark Chapter of the SAR and member and past president of the Illinois Society of 1812. He was also a member of the VFW, DAV and the American Legion Post 1026 of Albers, Ill. He received the lifetime achievement award from the Illinois State Historical Society for his work promoting the history of 1812 through innumerable public lectures and educational programs. He was an author and co-author with Kevin Kaegy and editor of six books of the 1812 era, most notable was “The Forts and Blockhouses of Early Illinois.”
Bill was born Jan. 24, 1944, in Albright, the son of Alston Daniel and Doris June, nee Gallatin, Wilson. He married Rose Marie Grotts on June 6, 1986, in Belleville, Ill. and she survives in Albers, Ill.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his children, Garth (Tracey) Wilson, of Whitesburg, Ga., James Pullen, of Carlyle, Ill., Susan Warburton, of Havre, Mont.., Patricia (Dave) Epps, of Granite City, Ill., Kimberly (fiancé, Aaron Fauke) Lowe, of Breese, Ill., and Brandon Lowe, of Albers, Ill..; seven grandchildren, Robin (Clint) Loepker, Chealsey (Nate) Riley, Brittany Witt, Connor Wilson, Cayden Wilson, Morgan (Jake) Reinhardt and Abbie Horstmann; 10 great-grandchildren, Chloe and Carson Loepker, Jayleigh, Jordyn, Adrianna and Kaden Riley, Jayson Stremcha, Raelynn and Remy McCall and Lucas Miller; a brother, Gary (Sid) Wilson, of Kingwood; a sister, Carolyn “Sue” Parks, of Terra Alta; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Sandi Whitford, Linda Kirbach, Mike and Wilma Grotts, Clifton Grotts, Earl and Karen Grotts, Edie and Chris Nichols and Richard Grotts.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter, Diane Pullen; a granddaughter, Courtney Taylor; a sister, Doris Fulmer; a brother, Daniel Richard Wilson; his grandparents, James Harvey Wilson and Clara Ellen Minor Wilson and William Fleming Gallatin and Fannie Nicholson Gallatin Shrout; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clifton Leroy and Alice Marie Grotts; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Mary Griffin, Brenda Grotts, Bill Parks, Charles Griffin, John Whitford, Gene Grotts, Ralph Kirbach and Mike Marroquin.
Funeral services will be held at Nordike Funeral Home in New Baden, Ill., at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13. Burial with full military honors will follow at Greenmount Cemetery in New Baden, Ill.
Visitation will be held at Nordike Funeral Home in New Baden, Ill., from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 12, and again from 10:30 a.m. until time of services on Saturday, Nov. 13.
Memorials may be made to Hill’s Fort Society or the Albers American Legion Post 1026 and will be received at the funeral home.
Condolences:
www.nordikefuneralhome.com
