Mr. William “Bill” Atwell, 88, of Port Allen, Louisiana passed away at 2:36 pm Tuesday, November 19. 2024 at his home with his wife Wanda by his side.
Bill was born April 6, 1936, in Weaver, Iowa, the son of Finice K. and Edna (Cronk) Atwell.
Bill first married Darlene Reed in Galesburg. He later married Wanda E. Harding in Elizabethtown, Kentucky on December 19, 1982. She survives in Port Allen. Also, surviving are Bill’s children, Gerald (Cathy) Atwell of Oak Run, Illinois, David (Linda) Atwell of Corpus Christi, Texas, Steven (Kim) Atwell of Monmouth, Illinois and Julie (Dean) Tracy of Galesburg; his step children, Randy Reed of Rockford, Illinois, Rick (Lisa) Reed of Knoxville, Illinois, Roger (Janice) Reed of East Galesburg, Paulette (Chris) Welty of Port Allen; their adopted son, Jeff Cundiff of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; twenty-seven grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Bill is preceded in death by his parents and his three sisters, Patrica Foutch, Dianne Johnson and Virginia Cherrington.
Bill was raised in Monmouth and graduated from Monmouth High School in 1954. He moved to Galesburg in 1962 and began working for Gates Rubber Company as a maintenance manager for 25 years. In 1981, he was later transferred to Elizabethtown, Kentucky where they built a farm. He later moved to Louisiana, where he and Wanda owned and operated the Country Corner Convenient Store for twelve and half years, selling some of the best crawfish. Bill retired as a maintenance manager for Lyons Specialty in Louisiana. He was of the Methodist faith, attending the United Methodist Church in Rosedale, LA.
Bill was an outdoorsman, fishing any opportunity he could. He enjoyed watching the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cubs.
Bill’s wishes were to be cremated. The burial will be at a later date in East Linwood Cemetery, Galesburg, Illinois. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel is assisting his family with arrangements. Memorials may be made in Bill’s name to American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be offered at www.h-p-w.com.
