William L. Herman's Obituary
CHARLESTON, IL - William Lowell (Bill) Herman, age 96, passed away in the comforting presence of his loving daughters on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at his Hilltop Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center home in Charleston. There will be no visitation. A Memorial Graveside Service honoring and celebrating his life will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at Roselawn Cemetery in Charleston with Bob Hill officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the combined honor guards of the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592 and Charleston American Legion Post 93 as well as the Illinois Army National Guard Honor Detachment. It is requested that thoughtful donations in his honor be made to the Charleston Community Unit School District 1. Gifts may be left at the gravesite or may be mailed to Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Dr., Charleston, IL 61920. Bill was born on April 14, 1920 in Lafayette Twp., Coles County, IL to the late Charles and Martha (Stoner) Herman. He married Madeleine Mannin on October 10, 1941 in Charleston. They were married 57 years before she predeceased him on December 11, 1998. Bill honorably served his country in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman in the European, African and Middle Eastern Theaters during World War II. Upon returning to Charleston in 1945 he worked at Caudill King Funeral Home and Midstate Foundry before accepting a position of school bus driver for Charleston Community District 1, mostly driving the Lerna route. He retired in 1983. Bill is survived by two daughters, Pat (Bob) Hill and Joy Cook, both of Charleston; twelve grandchildren: Jeff (Tina) Hill of Mattoon; Chris (Penny) Hill of Neoga; Debbie (Paul) Brewer of Ashmore; Jeremy (Shannon) Hill and Jim (Mandy) Hill all of Charleston; Keith (Jill) Thomason of Webster City, IA; Tonya Thomason and Chris Thomason, both of Charleston; Ashley Armstrong (Mark) Johnson of Charleston; Justin Armstrong of Delaware, OH; Todd (Laurie Ann) Mertens of Depew, NY and Lorie Grefski of Molina, FL; twelve great-grandchildren; Rachel Hill of Sullivan, P.J. Brewer II of Charleston, Alyssa (Courtland) Brooks of Washington, D.C., Mattison Hill of Muncie, IN, Zachary Hill of Charleston, Caleb and Mary Katherine Hill of Neoga, Tyler, Alex and Brayden Hill of Charleston, Abbie Thomason of Webster City, IA, and Andrew Mertens of Depew, NY; 3 step-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; Kira and Gabriel Hill of Sullivan; a son-in-law, Roger Armstrong of Charleston; a sister, May Myers and a brother, John Herman both of Charleston along with many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife he was predeceased by a daughter, Betty Armstrong, a brother, Kenneth Herman, and sisters, Florence Armstrong, Doris Childress and Merle Ohm. Bill was an avid fisherman up until three years ago when his health declined. He was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan and was so hoping he could watch them go to the World Series this year. He was a life member of the Charleston VFW Paul McVey Post 1592. SERVICES Graveside Service Tuesday, September 06, 2016 10:00 AM
What’s your fondest memory of William?
What’s a lesson you learned from William?
Share a story where William's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with William you’ll never forget.
How did William make you smile?