William E Tunis

PEKIN ~ William Eugene Tunis, 70, of Pekin, passed away at 7:22 p.m. Monday, May 17, 2010 at his residence.Born Sept. 30, 1939 in Pekin to Orville Madison and Louise Virginia (Siebens) Tunis, he married Ann L. Ehrlicher on Dec. 30, 1962 in Pekin.  She survives.Also surviving are one son, William J. (Tracy) Tunis of Chesterfield, MO; one daughter, Mary C. (Peter) Tocci of Carmel, IN and six grandchildren, Drew Tocci, Bennett Tocci, Daniel Tocci, Caroline Tunis, William Tunis and Graham Tunis.He was preceded in death by his parents and one step-brother, Paul Schramm.A 1957 graduate of Pekin Community High School, Bill graduated from Bradley University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing.  He was a member of Theta Xi Fraternity and while at Bradley was involved with R.O.T.C.  Bill also was a member and former board member of the Bradley University Alumni Association and had served as a consultant to the School of Business.  He also was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin's Graduate School of Banking and the University of Illinois Executive Development School.Bill initially worked several years in the steel mill at Keystone Steel & Wire Company in Bartonville and then took a position with the former Commercial National Bank in Peoria.  He then worked 21 years at Herget Bank, N.A. in Pekin, last working as the Executive Vice-President and as a member of the Board of Directors.  Bill accepted a position as Vice-President and Treasurer of the Pekin Insurance Companies in 1985.  In June 1993 he was named Senior Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary.  He also served as Chief Investment Officer with the responsibility of handling all investments for Pekin Insurance.  On Feb. 11, 2003, Bill retired as Senior Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary and at that time was elected Chairman of the Board and Secretary of the Pekin Insurance Board of Directors and was named as a member of the advisory committee.   Bill was first elected to the Pekin Insurance Board of Directors in February 1978 and retired from the board on May 9, 2006.   Bill was a board member and President of the Pekin Union Mission Society and Lakeside Cemetery Association.  He also was a member of the advisory board of the Hometown Community Banks and the American Society of Corporate Secretaries.  He previously served as treasurer and a board member of the Peoria Chapter of the American Red Cross; the Dirksen Congressional Center; United Way of Pekin; Peoria Area Community Foundation; Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce and Holiday School in Pekin.   He formerly served as a regional board member of National City Bank, Illinois State Chamber of Commerce and the Pekin Y.W.C.A. Advisory Committee.  Also, he was chairman and former member of the Pekin Hospital Board of Directors, has served on the Illinois Central College Foundation Board and the Lakeview Museum Foundation.  He was a member and past president of the Pekin Country Club Board of Governors.He was a member of Empire Lodge 126, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons in Pekin; Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Peoria; Mohammed Temple, Shrine in Bartonville and Pekin Elks Lodge 1271.  Bill also was the longtime chairman of the Salvation Army's Christmas Charity in Pekin.He was recognized in 2009 with the "Other's Award" from the Salvation Army of Pekin for his many years of faithful community service and charity work.Bill was a longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, where he was chairmen of the endowment committee and served the church as a former trustee and treasurer.Bill's interests included golfing, fishing and reading.  He also enjoyed yard work and in recent years had taken up trap shooting with friends.   Bill was a former little league coach.His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, May 21, 2010 at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin.  The Rev. Gary L. Ford will officiate.  Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 20, 2010 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.  Private burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church First Steps Building Fund, 503 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to Pekin Union Mission, P.O. Box 1027, Pekin, IL 61555-1027.