William "Bill" D. Branham

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Bill Branham, who left us peacefully on July 13, 2024, at the age of 68. Surrounded by his loving family in his final moments, he was a compassionate and loving man, cherishing every moment spent with his loved ones.

Bill is survived by his mother, Ruth (Dickey) Branham; wife, Jill (Pence); brother, Bob (Karen) Branham; sister, Judy (Ed) Wright; and half-brother, Michael Branham.

His mother single-handedly raised 3 children making sure they were sheltered, well dressed, well fed, and Glenwood educated.

He was preceded in death by father, George Branham and nephew, Chad Wright.

Bill was born on June 2, 1956, in Chatham, where he learned how to walk, had his first crush, and got his entire education in the Chatham School District. It was during these years, he developed his passions for music (classic rock with a dash of British invasion) and sports (BIG St. Louis Cardinals fan).

He graduated from Glenwood High School in 1974.

Bill worked for the State of Illinois for 36 years before retiring in November 2015.

Later in life, he took up a passion for motorcycles. He rode for nearly 20 years. When he sold his bike, he felt like the guy that had gone to Vegas, bet everything he had, broke even, and came home with a bunch of stories and memories. Some of the memories include riding the Tail-of-the Dragon in North Carolina. He also enjoyed a good cigar, sipping on his favorite wine or bourbon, while reflecting and sharing stories with his friends and family.

He married Jill in November 2017, where they adopted the motto “It’s Never Too Late To Live Happily Ever After”. They shared a love for music where they enjoyed catching live local music and going to concerts. Bill has seen countless musical acts, but one of his recent favorites was seeing Paul McCartney.

Bill had a quirky sense of humor and tried to laugh every single day, along with trying to make others laugh along with him. If you asked Bill a question and the answer was more complicated than a simple yes or no, he would often preface his answer with, “OK, here’s the deal.”

Memorial Gathering and Ceremony: Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at Butler Funeral Home-Chatham, 8855 IL Rt. 4, Chatham.

Burial will follow at Chatham Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association.