Bill Rohl

Charles William “Bill” Rohl, aged 86, died peacefully at his home in St. Joseph, IL the morning of Sunday, January 10, 2021.


Bill was born on February 8, 1934 in Homer, IL, the youngest of the five children of William and Thelma Heselden Rohl. He graduated from Homer High School in the early 1950s. Bill worked at Brewer’s Chevrolet in Homer, drove a school bus for Unit 7, and walked tunnels as a steam distribution operator at the University of Illinois until he retired in 1994. He married his wife, Martha (Mills) on October 21,1979 and moved to St. Joseph in 1989.


Even while working full-time, he spent many additional hours doing carpentry work, building, and remodeling for businesses and independently. His proudest accomplishment was serving as general contractor and building several houses for himself and family members. After retirement, Bill helped his brother-in-law John Mills with farming work until he had to stop at age 73 because his knees wouldn’t cooperate. For his whole life, he was a strong man and a hard worker.


When he wasn’t working, Bill was often surrounded by friends and neighbors telling stories of former years in Homer and cracking jokes. An avid football and baseball fan, he cheered on his favorite teams on TV and in person: the Bears, the Cardinals, and the St. Joseph-Ogden Spartans. Bill was a fierce card player and especially enjoyed beating people at euchre. He also got a kick out of watching the horses run and figuring out which ones to wager on.   



Bill was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters, Orthalyne Resseler, Olive Nielhaus, and Betty Erwin; and survived by his brother Orville. He is survived by wife Marti; daughters Becky (John) Bennett and Julie (John) Doorn; sons Scott (Joy), Shawn (Kelly) Skinner, and Chris (Linda); grandchildren Jeremy, Michael, Melissa, Shane, Todd, Tyson, Erinn, Conrad, and Tommy; great-grandchildren Sylas, Oliver, Weston, and Rhett; and several nieces and nephews.



Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday January 13, 2021 at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 802 E. Douglas St. St. Joseph. Pastor Andrew Jones will officiate. Burial will be in G.A.R. Cemetery, Homer. Visitation will be from 9:00 A.M.-11:00 A.M. at the church on Wednesday.

 Freese Funeral Home 302 E. Grand Ave. St. Joseph is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at Freesefh.com


In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in his honor to St. Joseph-Stanton Fire & Rescue Squad or Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. 

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