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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
William E.
Birch
June 22, 1938 – October 19, 2008
Obituary
Chenoa: William E. Birch, 70, of rural Chenoa, died at 12:23 pm, Sunday, October 19, 2008 at BroMenn Regional Medical Center, Normal.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 pm, Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the First Baptist Church of Pontiac. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa has charge of services.
His funeral service will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, October 23, 2008 at First Baptist Church of Pontiac with Dr. James Wolfe III officiating. Burial will follow in Chenoa Cemetery, Chenoa.
Bill was born June 22, 1938 in Fairbury, IL a son to William K. and Mabel L. (Roberts) Birch. He married Kay Grider in Chenoa on June 28, 1959. She survives in Chenoa.
Also surviving are three daughters: Jill Birch, Chenoa, Judy (John) Pohanka, Chenoa, Jackie (Jay) Jackson, Lexington, two sisters; Anita Greenwell, Jane Dixon both of Chenoa, five grandchildren; Crystal (Roberts) Wade, Randy Roberts, Josh Jackson, Austin Pohanka and Samantha Streid.
He was preceded in death by both parents.
Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pontiac and the Pontiac Elks Club. He was a 1957 graduate of Chenoa High School. Later he was employed by Seibert & Sons, Chenoa where he received his Tool & Die certification. He was the first tool and die maker to be hired at Pontiac Caterpillar when it first opened. He later worked as a grinding coordinator. After taking various courses to further his knowledge in this field Caterpillar sent him throughout the world as a problem solver for grinding machines.
He wrote and presented a paper for the Third International Grinding Conference in 1998. He was transferred to the Human Resources Department and began teaching a variety of courses to the other employees. In 1998 he was sent to Thomasville, Georgia as the first management person to prepare to open a new Caterpillar facility. He not only made all preparations for the opening of this facility but he hired and trained the first fifty employees. He retired in 1999 and established his own company named Birchworks, Inc. He worked at various Caterpillar facilities as well as other companies doing grinding consulting. Bill also taught several classes at Illinois Central College, East Peoria and Heartland Community College, Normal. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
The family suggests that memorials be directed to First Baptist Church of Pontiac or BroMenn CVCU, Normal, IL.
Visitation is from 4 to 8 pm, Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at the First Baptist Church of Pontiac. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Chenoa has charge of services.
His funeral service will be held at 10:30 am, Thursday, October 23, 2008 at First Baptist Church of Pontiac with Dr. James Wolfe III officiating. Burial will follow in Chenoa Cemetery, Chenoa.
Bill was born June 22, 1938 in Fairbury, IL a son to William K. and Mabel L. (Roberts) Birch. He married Kay Grider in Chenoa on June 28, 1959. She survives in Chenoa.
Also surviving are three daughters: Jill Birch, Chenoa, Judy (John) Pohanka, Chenoa, Jackie (Jay) Jackson, Lexington, two sisters; Anita Greenwell, Jane Dixon both of Chenoa, five grandchildren; Crystal (Roberts) Wade, Randy Roberts, Josh Jackson, Austin Pohanka and Samantha Streid.
He was preceded in death by both parents.
Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church of Pontiac and the Pontiac Elks Club. He was a 1957 graduate of Chenoa High School. Later he was employed by Seibert & Sons, Chenoa where he received his Tool & Die certification. He was the first tool and die maker to be hired at Pontiac Caterpillar when it first opened. He later worked as a grinding coordinator. After taking various courses to further his knowledge in this field Caterpillar sent him throughout the world as a problem solver for grinding machines.
He wrote and presented a paper for the Third International Grinding Conference in 1998. He was transferred to the Human Resources Department and began teaching a variety of courses to the other employees. In 1998 he was sent to Thomasville, Georgia as the first management person to prepare to open a new Caterpillar facility. He not only made all preparations for the opening of this facility but he hired and trained the first fifty employees. He retired in 1999 and established his own company named Birchworks, Inc. He worked at various Caterpillar facilities as well as other companies doing grinding consulting. Bill also taught several classes at Illinois Central College, East Peoria and Heartland Community College, Normal. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
The family suggests that memorials be directed to First Baptist Church of Pontiac or BroMenn CVCU, Normal, IL.
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