William "Bill" G. Athmer, Jr.

Visitation - Tuesday, December 15, 2009 from 4 PM to 9 PM
               Wednesday, December 16 from 8 AM to 9:30 AM
Hempen Funeral Home - New Baden, IL

Mass of Christian Burial - Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10 AM
St. Damian Catholic Church - Damiansville, IL
 

William G. “Bill” Athmer, Jr., 68 of Damiansville, died Sunday, December 13, 2009 at  St. Elizabeth Hospital in Belleville.  He was born January 17, 1941 in Breese, son of William F., Sr. & Vera M. (Santel) Athmer.  He married Rosalie R. Detmer in Bartelso on September 7, 1960 and she survives in Damiansville. 

In addition to his wife he survived by his children, Karen (Terry) Mauser of New Baden, Duane (Terry) Athmer of Wilmington, Ohio, Matt Athmer of Germantown, Keith (Jane) Athmer of Trenton, Daryl Athmer of New Baden, Michelle (Herman) Wegmann of New Baden, Craig (Christina) Athmer of Damiansville, and Kelly (Jeff) Elias of Breese; 18 grandchildren, Dawn (Mike) Dulle, Jason (fianceé Kayla) Athmer, Stephanie (Billy) Perdue, Brad Wegmann, Angela (special friend Zach) Athmer, Ryan Athmer, Adam Athmer, Shaina Athmer, Jeffrey Wegmann, Kendra Athmer, Maddyson Athmer, Katelyn Elias, Abigail Wegmann, William Athmer, Allison Elias, Anthony Athmer, Kevin Athmer, and Jacob Athmer; two great- grandchildren, Claire Dulle and Madeline Dulle; three brothers, Maurice Athmer of Damiansville, Dave (Marilyn) Athmer of Carlyle, and Dan (Diane) Athmer of Damiansville; brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Jerry Wesselmann of Breese, Stanley Detmer of Bartelso, Mary & Herman Huelsmann of Aviston, Reginald & Julia Detmer and Mary Ellen Detmer of Breese, Bernadette Detmer, and Rita Detmer of Trenton.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, one granddaughter, Jessica Athmer; a daughter-in-law, Debbie Athmer; a sister, Theresa K. “Toots” Wesselmann; and brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law, Cleta Detmer, Joseph Detmer, Theodore Detmer, Donald Detmer, Sister Delores Detmer, ASC, Lorene & Henry Hemker, and his father-in-law & mother-in-law, Joseph & Minnie Detmer. 

Before his retirement Mr. Athmer was a mechanic at Kohnen Concrete.  He was a member of St. Damian Parish and Men’s Sodality in Damiansville and Teamsters Local 50 in Belleville.  He enjoyed hunting and spending time at the clubhouse.  

 A funeral mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at St. Damian Catholic Church in Damiansville with Msgr. Donald Eichenseer officiating.  Burial will follow at St. Damian Cemetery in Damiansville. 

Friends may call from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday, December 15, 2009 and from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at Hempen Funeral Home in New Baden.  

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Clinton County Relay For Life or to St. Damian Parish and will be received at the funeral home.