William "Bill" Thulen

William “Bill” Thulen, age 81, of Savanna, Illinois, passed away Monday, October 26, 2020 at Big Meadows Nursing Home, Savanna. A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 30, at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Savanna, with a brief visitation for family and close friends from 12:30 – 1:00pm at the cemetery. Family and friends are invited to share in Bill’s life at www.lawjonesfuneralhome.com .

Bill was born December 24, 1938, in Savanna, Illinois, the son of Wayne and El Rose Violet (Atkins) Thulen. On July 12, 1958, Bill married Josephine Duffy. They celebrated 41 years of marriage until Josephine’s passing. He later married Virginia “Ginnie” Yenney on March 15, 2002.

Bill was a machinist on CP & Milwaukee Railroad for 30 years, working in Savanna and Nahant, Iowa. He commercial fished for many years, and also worked at Power Lab and Metform. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, golfing, and playing pool. He loved the outdoors and liked watching sports. If a friend or family member needed help, Bill was there.

William will be dearly missed by his wife Ginnie, of Savanna; his son Rodney (Dorothy) Thulen of New Boston, Illinois; stepson, Donald (Gloria) Shores of Liberty, Missouri; son-in-law, Jim Goodman of Georgia; daughter-in-law, Lauri of Wisconsin; five grandchildren, Sara, Kathren, Nicholas, Courtney and Adam; a great-grandson, Blake; brother David (Brenda) Thulen of Savanna; brother-in-law Ed Haring of Shannon; and a sister, Linda Eley of Mosinee, Wisconsin.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents; son William Jr.; a daughter, Bernadine “Renee” Goodman; grandson Robert Houston; his first wife, Josephine; three brothers, Mike, Bobby and Paul; two sisters, Kathi Thulen and Elsie Haring; and brother-in-law Sam Eley.