William Tell Pearcy Jr. (78) of Effingham

William Tell Pearcy Jr., 78, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Indiana University Health University Hospital in Indianapolis, IN.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. Burial will in St. Anthony Cemetery in Effingham with military rites. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, concluding with a 7:00 p.m. Knights of Columbus rosary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Anthony Church or St. Anthony Schools, the CCSI Charitable Fund (Crossroads Cancer Center), or donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com

William “Bill” was born on June 23, 1946 in Effingham, IL, the son of William and Ruth (Ramsey) Pearcy. He married Margaret (Marge) Willenborg on January 7, 1967. Bill and Marge raised three children: Vicki (Gerald) Will of Effingham, Tod (Tina) Pearcy of Effingham, Amy (Brian) Sommer of Springfield. He was the proud grandparent of seven: April (Alex) Ritz, Amber (Kyle) Mooney, Austin (Morgan) Wenthe, T. Pearcy, Travis Pearcy, Curtis Sommer, and Douglas Sommer. He was also the proud greatgrandparent of Matthew, Elizabeth, and Claire Ritz; Hunter and Walker Mooney; Norah and Nolan Wenthe. He is survived by his brother, Richard (Georgia) Pearcy; sisters-in-law, Sherry Pearcy, Rowena Pearcy, Joan (Don) Koester; brothers-in-law Mel (Marge) Willenborg, Art Willenborg, and Larry Willenborg; as well as many nieces and nephews. Bill graduated from Stewardson-Strasburg High School in 1964. After high school, he served three years in the Navy in air traffic control on the U.S.S. Constellation. He worked for R. R. Donnelly, Yellow Freight, American Freight, and retired from Roadway/YRC. Bill was an active member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Effingham. serving as a mass usher and on the building and ground maintenance committee. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus #665. Bill volunteered for The Cross at the Crossroads and volunteered for both St. Anthony and Sacred Heart parishes and schools. He was also president of the Jet Park Shuffle Club in Florida. He dearly loved to be with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time fishing, camping, wood carving, carpentry, playing cards, morning coffee group, shuffling, volunteering, and helping others.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, Samuel Baker; infant son, Keith Pearcy; sister, Erma (Shelby Lee) Antrim; brothers, Sam Pearcy and Danny Joe Pearcy; and sisters-in-law Jeanne Willenborg and Pat Willenborg.