Rest in Peace, Billie Seesland's Father, WWII Veteran, Aged 97

William Seesland

William H. "Bill" Seesland, 97, a longtime Moline resident, passed away Friday, June 5, 2015, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.

A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 11, at First Congregational Church, 2201 7th Ave., Moline. Visitation with the family will be 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Wendt Funeral Home, Moline. Burial at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, will take place at 10 a.m. Friday, June 12.

Bill was born Nov. 18, 1917, at Camp Logan, Houston, Texas, to Eileen (O'Reilly) and Glen J. Seesland. Bill's father, an officer in the 132nd Illinois Infantry, was serving under General Pershing, who was attempting to capture Pancho Villa.

Bill grew up in several locations because of the early death of his mother, living with relatives in Chicago, Detroit, Mich., Sycamore, Ill., and Juda, Wis. Perhaps this is how he developed his skill in dealing with people and, despite adversity, a positive attitude to life. He attended Northwestern University in Evanston and Centre College in Danville, Ky. In October 1942, he enlisted in the Aviation Cadet Program. He was called to active duty in January 1943 and went overseas in January 1945, joining the 487th Squadron of the 352nd Fighter Group at Chevres, Belgium. His main base was Bodney, England, flying the P-51 Mustang and earning the rank of captain.

Bill and his wife, Alberta "Billie," moved to Moline in 1946 to raise a family and work for Deere & Co., retiring in 1980. Married since 1939, Bill and Billie enjoyed retirement visiting Alaska, Panama Canal, Europe and Africa. He was also an avid golfer and tennis player. In 2008, Bill flew on the Q-C Honor Flight with daughters, Eileen and Bonnie. An enthusiastic advocate of the Moline Fire Department, he was a founding member of the Moline Second Alarmers in the early 1950s. In November 2007, Bill was made an honorary member of Fire Fighter's Union 581. Sunday mornings might find him enjoying a cup of coffee with his firemen friends and sharing his wit and humor in the conversation.

Bill is survived by his three daughters, Bonnie Tyler, Washington, D.C., Billie Brewer, Moline, and Eileen Hoegner, Moline; and his granddaughter, Darcy Tyler, Seattle, Wash. He was preceded in death by wife, Alberta, in 2013; and sons-in-law, Curtis P. Hoegner and Jerry L. Brewer.

The family requests no flowers. Instead, donations are suggested to Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, 2546 Tech Drive, Bettendorf, IA 52722; or Living Lands & Water, 17624 Illinois 84 N., East Moline, IL 61244; or do something for yourself that makes you happy.

Online condolences may be expressed at wendtfuneralhome.com.

Happy 48th Anniversary - Rex and LaWanda Bullock

Rex: 'Today, 48 years ago 2 kids faced 2 preachers ( our fathers) and said "I do." We really had no idea what all that meant, but 48 years later we're still together and we're still in love. LaWanda, you're still the most beautiful girl in all the world and you're MINE. Happy Anniversary! Let's keep saying "I do."

Rest in Peace, Jack Dye

Jack Dye, MHS teacher

Jack Dye, 86, of Moline, well-known teacher and coach, died Sunday, May 3l, 2015, at Heartland Health Care Center, Moline

Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 4, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th St., Moline. Services to mark a life well-lived will be at 11 a.m. Friday at First Congregational Church in Moline, with the Rev. Craig Jan-McMahon officiating. Interment will follow at Moline Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Jack Dye Scholarship Fund at Moline High School.

Jack was born in Rock Island on Oct. l2, 1928, to Frank and Edith Wold Dye. He graduated from Rock Island Public Schools, where he enjoyed a variety of work and athletics. He graduated from Augustana College with a degree in history and education. He worked briefly at IBM, but the classroom called, and he returned to start his teaching career at Roosevelt Military Academy in Aledo, soon to move on to the Moline School District, teaching first at John Deere Junior High and later at Moline High School. He loved coaching basketball, golf and tennis and enjoyed the daily challenge of engaging students in timely discussions about the social sciences. He earned his master's degree in administration from Western Illinois University and served as department head for many years in social studies.

Jack was instrumental in starting the Moline Hall of Honor for Moline graduates and recently earned induction into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. His razor wit and rapid-fire delivery coupled with a near-photographic memory were feared and admired throughout the community.

He met the love of his life, Charlotte Joy Shipley, in 1953, and, after a whirlwind courtship, they married on March 20, 1954, in Moline. He raised three true Moliners and several Boston terriers while maintaining his park-like lawn. Jack also kept busy, as was his habit, by working outside of education as well. He loved the Moline downtown and enjoyed working at Ydeen's Men's Wear, where he would hold court and sell quality suits. Jack did not fully embrace retirement and stayed busy volunteering with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and Arrowhead Ranch. He also attended countless athletic events of his grandchildren and kept many Moline athletes supplied with special laminated accounts of their achievements. Jack also served as historian of Wharton Field House and co-authored a book with George Van Vooren on the history of Moline basketball. Jack was a lifelong "Dye-hard" Chicago Cub fan and really believed that this could be their year.

Jack is survived by his children and their spouses, Brad and Joanna Dye, Moline, Jeff Dye and Tammie Newvine-Erskine, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Jodi and Mark Zimmerman, Moline; grand-children, Jared and Derek Dye and Jessica and Jenna Zimmerman; brothers-in-law, Gene Shipley and Ron and Lou Shipley, all of Moline; and several nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his lovely wife, Joy, and brothers, William and Donald Dye.

Jack's family extends thanks and appreciation to the staffs at Heartland Health Care Center and the Wound Care Clinic and invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a free candle in his memory at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.