William Finn

William Francis Finn, 93, of Coal City, Illinois, passed away at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, November 14, 2014, at Heritage Health, Dwight, Illinois. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 18, 2014, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Reeves Funeral Home, 75 N. Broadway, Coal City, Illinois. Funeral Services Wednesday, November 19, 2014 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church, 245 S. Kankakee St., Coal City, Illinois. Burial will follow at Braceville-Gardner Cemetery. Bill was born July 21, 1921 in South Wilmington, Illinois, the son of Cyril and Josephine (Bottino) Finn. He married Vivian K. Born at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church in Coal City on August 1, 1942. She survives. Also surviving are three children, Sheryl Finn, Morris, Illinois; Daniel Finn, Los Angeles, California; Patricia (Kim) Drechsel, Dwight, Illinois; three grandchildren, Kevin (Heather) Drechsel, Odell, Illinois; Brian Drechsel, El Paso, Illinois; Kelli Drechsel, Dwight, Illinois; three great-grandchildren, Tyler, Chloe, and Alexis Drechsel; one sister Patricia Sayers, Coal City, Illinois; one brother Edward Finn, South Wilmington, Illinois; sister-in-law Charlotte Finn, South Wilmington, Illinois; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Melvin and Eileen Mill, Spring, Texas; brother-in-law Melvin Jackman, Gardner, Illinois. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law Mary and Joseph Bacigalupo; brother and sister-in-law Eugene and Myrt Finn; brother-in-law Norman Sayers; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Larry and Thelma Wickman; sister-in-law Norma Jackman; brother-in-law Mervin Joneson. Bill graduated from Gardner-South Wilmington High School with the class of 1938. He worked with the Civilian Conservation Corps in Skokie, Illinois, then enlisted in the army in December 1942. Bill was part of the 101st Airborne Division, Signal Corp, that participated in the invasion of France on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the German army shortly after his glider plane crash landed near Carentan, France. Bill spent the next eight months as a P.O.W., being liberated by the Russians in February 1945. After returning from the war, Bill and his wife, Vivian, raised their family in E. Brooklyn and Coal City, Illinois. He ran Finn's Grocery Store in South Wilmington for a time, worked at the Joliet Arsenal, and Amoco Chemical in Joliet. Besides serving his country, Bill spent countless hours serving his church and his community. He was a Lector, Eucharistic Minister, CCD Teacher, and Church Trustee at St. Mary's Assumption Catholic Church, and an active member of Braidwood Knights of Columbus Council #1574, 4th Degree. Bill was a charter member of the Coal City Emergency Squad and the Coal City Area Club, fireman, Cubmaster and Boy Scout Leader, and a member of VFW St. Juvin Post 1336. Bill also assisted the Reeves family at Reeves Funeral Home for many years. Bill loved camping, bowling, family vacations, going on cruises with Vivian, his bride of 72 years, and attending reunions with his 101st Airborne Division comrades. He will be remembered for his love of family, his generous and kind spirit, and his wonderful sense of humor. Memorials may be given to a charity of the donor's choice.