William “Bill” Johnson, 98, of Loves Park, Illinois passed away on February 10, 2022. Bill was born on May 18, 1923 in Rockford, Illinois to Ernest and Hulda (Olson) Johnson. He graduated from Harlem High School in 1942. Bill served in the Navy from 1943 to 1945, and was proud to have served in World War II. He married the love of his life, Estella Queen, on July 18, 1945. He was a member of the American Legion of Loves Park, Illinois, he enjoyed watching birds, and had hobbies like hunting and fishing. He was a Master Gardner, and was very proud of all his flowers and trees that he tended over the years. In addition, Bill was a handy man and was amazing at woodworking; he had built the first and second houses the family resided in. Bill and Estella enjoyed traveling together to places, including Alaska and Sweden, visiting his distant family. Bill was a very supportive man and will be greatly missed by his loved ones and all who knew him.
Bill is survived by his daughter, Joni (Greg) Moore; his grandchildren, Jason (Stacey) Thompson, Joel (Andrea) Thompson, Tarah (Jerrod) Thompson, Sarah Thompson, Karen (Ed) Panosh, Jordan (Amber) Moore, Kevin (Jacquie) Moore, Bryan Diehl, Bethany (Michael) Petillo, Rebekah (Shannon) Veal, Jessie Kloster, and Joel Kloster; his great-grandchildren, Alexis, Michael, Jake, Lùc, Matthew, Natalya, Rhiannon, Madison, Brooklyn, Taeden, Landon, Natalia, Max, Felicity, Dash, Delaney, Vince, and Daely; his sons-in-law, Dennis (Beverly) Thompson and Wayne (Judy) Diehl and many beloved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife, Estella; his parents, his daughters, Barbara Thompson and Lori Diehl; his grandson, Rick Thompson; his great-granddaughter, Cherish; his brothers, Robert Johnson, and John Johnson.
Visitation will be held for Bill on Monday, February 14, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd, Machesney Park, IL 61115. Funeral Service at 2:00 p.m. with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Bill’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. www.stjude.org.
