Bill Weems

Billy Earl Weems, 79, of Olney passed away on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at his home.

Bill was born on February 19, 1945, in Iuka, Illinois, to Charles “Chuck” and Bertha (Kuntsman) Weems. He grew up in Iuka, Illinois and graduated from Salem High School in 1962. He married Keiko Bowlby on October 16, 1981, at Woodland Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Bill started his employment as a rivet driver at the Centralia Train Yards and then became an insurance salesman for Lincoln Mutual. In 1970 he moved to Olney, Illinois. Bill opened and operated Weems’ White Spot - a local hamburger and ice cream restaurant for 8 years. In 1978 he became a Welder for Local Union 157 Pipefitters and Steamfitters located in Terre Haute, Indiana. In the early 1990s he started in supervision and eventually became a Superintendent with Murphy Company and JH Kelly. He traveled the country running jobs in refineries and power plants. Bill retired from the Union in 2007. After retirement Bill enjoyed participating in various classic car shows showing off his 1966 Chevelle SS and his 1950 Ford StepSide. In 2015 he opened Weems Furniture in Robinson, Illinois. Bill also enjoyed traveling and vacationing in the Dominican Republic where he formed several new friendships.

Bill enjoyed playing Men's Softball and eventually established the Olney Merchants Men’s Softball team. He also coached Olney Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball teams, taking the 1981 Babe Ruth team to fourth place in the State Tournament. His own boys were often on the league teams he coached. In the mid-80s he organized a very successful radiothon in order to raise money for East Richland School Sports. He was an avid sports fan and held season tickets for several years at East Richland High School. Bill was very involved in politics and served as the Democratic County Chairman for several years. He also served on the Olney City Council for 4 years.

Bill is survived by his wife, Keiko, of 42 years. He is also survived by his son, Greg Weems and wife, Jill, of Olney, Illinois; son Brandon Weems and wife, Pam, of Spokane, Washington; daughter, Wende Fingers and husband, Demetrius, of Evansville, Indiana and son, Logan Weems and wife Tiffany, of Olney Illinois; grandchildren Lyndsey Barth and husband TJ of Olney, Illinois; Jordan Weems of Seattle, Washington; Marcus Weems and fiancé’ Bailey Fleming of Olney, Illinois; Ember Kabbes and husband, Justin, of St Charles, Missouri; Kendyl Mitchell and husband, Evan of Olney, Illinois; Ryann Weems and fiancé’, Jerry Impecoven, of Spokane, Washington; Lincoln Keller of Olney, Illinois; Madison Egleston and husband, Zac, of Olney, Illinois; Jaylan Mitchell, Riley Mitchell, Praise Mitchell and Logan Fingers of Evansville, Indiana; and Raiden Weems, Kayson Weems, Hayden Weems and Peyton Webber of Olney, Illinois; father-in-law, Michael Bowlby of Spring Lake, North Carolina; sisters-in-law, Reiko Benson of Olney, Illinois and Pasty Weems of Mt. Carmel, Illinois; brothers-in-law, Masanori Nakamura of Okinawa, Japan and Mikey Bowlby of Charlotte, North Carolina. Bill also has thirteen great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers. Keith Weems, Kenneth Weems, Merle Weems and Toney Weems.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 pm on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at Kistler-Patterson Funeral Home in Olney. Visitation will be held two hours prior to the service.

Interment will follow the service at Haven Hill Memorial Gardens in Olney, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Olney Little League or the Olney Tiger Basketball.