William J. Behrens

William James Gordon Behrens rode the Great Fire Truck up to Heaven on June 21, 2010. During his 77 years, he played many roles in life: Loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend; Army soldier, U.S. mailman, and Chicago firefighter; and, always, life of the party. Born in Chicago May 31, 1933, to William and Eleanor, he spent his youth playing in Wrigleyville and working on his Uncle Ger’s farm in Wisconsin. After serving in Austria during the Korean War, he returned to Chicago, where he married Diana Moell in 1957. Together they raised three children and became proud grandparents to five. He joined the Chicago Fire Department in 1961 and spent most of his career stationed at Engine Co. 79 in Edgebrook. For many decades, he enjoyed passive membership in the Schwäbischer Sängerbund and the German-American Singers of Chicago. After a full life in the city, he and Diana moved to Arlington Heights three years ago. Bill is survived by Diana, his wife of 52 years; children Janet (Jim) DeSalvo, Laura Zak and Web Behrens; grandchildren Elisabeth, Emily, James, Eric and Lauren; sisters Rosetta (Jim) Archibald and Gloria (Larry) Martinelli; and many nieces and nephews.