A.W. "Bill" Dasenbrock (93) of Effingham

 A.W.“Bill” Dasenbrock, 93, passed away Thursday, August 22, 2019 at his home in Effingham, surrounded by his loving family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 27 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Teutopolis with burial in St. Anthony Cemetery, Effingham, with military graveside rites. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham with a 6:30 p.m. Knights of Columbus rosary. Memorial donations may be given to Honor Flightor to the Effingham County Courthouse Museum. Online condolences may be expressed by clicking here or to the Dasenbrock Family, P.O. Box 357, Effingham, IL 62401.

Bill was born April 10, 1926 to Florence (Lustig) and Aloysius Dasenbrock on top of the old Teutopolis Post office. He was the second child of five, three brothers Carl, Louis, and Harold, and a sister Stella. He had a happy childhood and was a hard worker from a young age cleaning out-houses, washing cars at Weber’s, cleaning a nun’s septic tank, and working for the Teutopolis Press.

Bill was drafted into WWII and was stationed in Japan where he caught Dengue fever. He returned to his post and finished out his service before returning back to his hometown of Teutopolis. He got a job at Schulte Candy that was later renamed Pearson Candy for two years. It was there he fell in love with Virginia Pauline McDevitt. He used to drive by her house and honk while she waved out her bedroom window. They were wed in November of 1947 and had two children before they moved to Flora where they had two more. A.W. and Ginny moved back to Effingham at her childhood home, where they completed their family with three more children. After working at Siemer’s for four years, A.W. worked for Honnegar’s which led him into the feed and supply business. He owned and operated Pet Feed and Supply for 47 years before they closed the doors in 2007.

He was a member of many associations: NRA, President to Effingham County Taxpayer Association, NFO, and Citizens Fighting Gun Confiscation. He ran for the Constitutional Convention and for the Mayor seat in Effingham. He endured many heartaches but still maintained a positive outlook after losing 5 children and his beloved wife. He lived a healthy, blessed life. He was very social and took to visiting nursing homes and to listening to the live music played there and enjoyed his many drives to watch for geese at surrounding lakes. He reminded everyone to always forgive one another. His favorite saying was “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Bill was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham, the Effingham Knights of Columbus Council #554 and the American Legion Post #120.

He is survived by daughters Kay Hansen (fiancé Dale Donsbach) and Dee (Rock) Schumacher, of Long Beach, California; 12 grandchildren Laura, Mark, Kerry, Holly, Corey, Jayme, Aymee, Julie, Kara, Derek, Joseph, and Robert; 32 great grandchildren and one on the way; 2 great-great grandchildren with 1 more on the way and brother, Carl of Cobden.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wife; infant daughter, Patricia, daughter, Marion, sons Louie, Eddie, and Bill; granddaughter Kim, son-in-law, Blair Hansen, sister Stella Beall and brothers, Harold and Louis.