William "Bill" L Fisher

Well, if you are reading this, the good Lord finally gave Mr. Scott the order to Beam Me Up! I guess I finally got my wish and don't have to go to work. Anyway, I began my life in 1960 when I graced Freeman W. & Mary J. Fisher with my presence on July 10th. A little bit about me during my 22,291 days or 61 years here on this earth. I was not the type of person that would light up the room when I walked in, heck people didn't even notice that I had walked in or out for that matter. I would have done anything I could have for you, as long as you had asked Pam and got her permission first. I grew up in the north end of Peoria where I played kick the can and what we called back then, parking lot football. I had dreams of being a great receiver because I could catch anything thrown in my direction, except girls, I had a hard time catching them. I could ride a wheelie on my bike well over a block long back in the day. I attempted to learn to play the guitar as a youth and I failed at it miserably. I was beat out of going to the spelling bee in 7th grade in the very early seventies. I also attended a parochial school in the seventies and I took 4th place in the state of Illinois for weightlifting. I learned to ride a motorcycle in my youth and was able to teach our sons to ride as well. I was a scrawny kid, also known to my late, what would soon be future father-in-law, George "Rocky" Collins, as a sawed-off little punk! So, I got the last laugh and married the love of my life, his daughter, (the only girl I was able to catch) Pamela J. Collins on March 9th, 1979.

Together we raised our three sons, William, Elic and Joshua. As we all aged, I once again attempted to do something, and that was to learn to skate, well, that's what I called it, the boys called it something else. I coached hockey at PYHA for numerous years, even though I couldn't skate and failed their mini mite skating program, they still allowed me to coach. I also served as the House League VP for 4 years, as well as, a board member. I enjoyed being on the ice with our sons and their teams.

Eventually, as William and Elic aged, they became assistant coaches with me for my youngest son and their little brother, Joshua. We enjoyed the locker room talks. The boys may tell you the stories if you ask, but the rule was, what you say in the locker room, stay in the locker room. I am sure they may all tell you the same one, as that one was probably the best in mine and their minds. I had coached for both Travel and House League teams. My heart was more into the House League program as I was able to remain close to the house and the TV, with a fire in the fireplace. You could find me out and about, with a Vikings cap on my head and a smoke in my hand. I made my wife upset one time (Yes, just one time) as we were running and I was smoking while we were running and she was out of breath, when we got home, she told me that we wouldn't be running anymore, because she was out of breath and I made her mad by running and smoking. (That's how I knew I made her mad one time, she told me). Anyone who knows me, knows I was an avid Minnesota Vikings fan and sported the team apparel proudly, whether they won or lost, I didn't care and still wore it. SKOL! I always said I had two favorite teams, The Vikings and whatever team one of the boys was playing on. I was also a St. Louis Cardinals fan, but not as much as my late beloved mother, who passed in Feb. 2018. My father passed away when I was a young boy, in April 1968. I started my working career at Burger King, and from there got on at Ruppman Marketing Services and then my final job was at CILCO, which became Ameren Illinois where I retired in 2021 unless I didn't make it to retirement, and Pam will be really well off and protected by our three pit bulls. I had many nicknames from those who knew me, some which can be mentioned and others that can't be put in print. A few of my favorites that could be put in print are Honey, Slick, Dad, Pops, Father, Coach, Popafish, Fish, Billy Bob, Billy boy, Mr. Bill, Bpa & the latest to be added, that I grew quite fond of was Pop Pop. I loved being a Bpa and according to the boys I allowed the grandkids to do many things that they couldn't do while growing up, mainly tear up my grass in the yard. I enjoyed giving people the middle finger, and made a game out of it, to give you the middle finger before you gave it to me.

As we all aged and grew into maturity, the boys, not me, we all bought a boat together and have spent many of summers on it as a family, when it wasn't dry docked for one reason or another. I enjoyed seeing the boys happy, as any father would. I thought I was a funny man and to some I was. My humor was one of a kind, and will be missed, well so I think. After I got an eye injury at work and they were doing surgery on it to insert a shunt to help with the eye pressure, in the operating room they all said who they were and what they would be doing, as I laid on the table listening to them after they finished I said to them, I can't believe no one has questioned as to which eye the surgery is on, because you all stated it was the right eye, it is in fact the left eye. The Operating Room got really quiet, and then I let them off the hook and told them it was in fact my right eye. Then they knocked me out, apparently so I couldn't say anymore! When the doctor went out to let the family know how it went, he told them of this, and they looked at him and said, Well Sir, that would be our Dad! When I worked at Ruppman's, I made a dummy to sit in the men's room to take up the last stall so no one could use it for the day, the manager finally asks my supervisor at the time if he had someone in the group who was sick or was feeling well, and the supervisor told him no, not that he was aware of and ask the manager why he was asking? The manager said that all the times he had been to the men's room he had noticed the same 'person' in the same stall and was concerned. They went to check it out, and as they ask if the person in there was ok, and got no response, they opened the door and saw the makeshift person sitting there and both said "FISHER!" I would say to a few of the women I worked with, "Girl! What's up with you besides your weight?" I have been quoted more than once as I would say, "l am more than a pretty face you know!" and "you are gonna miss me!". They will find out now if they do or not. I had a lifelong love affair with Hamburgers and French Fries, Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches with potato chips on the side, as well as Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches and Peanut Butter and Pickle sandwiches. The spears was the best for that. Thank You to all the women who were to be mothers I have known throughout my life's journey for that one. Obviously, there is more that I wanted to say, but Pam said it would take away from her money that would be left to her, so I stopped.

I leave behind my wife who recently has come into a lot of money, Pam of 61 years, and the three pit bulls I mentioned earlier to protect her; our three sons, William, Elic (Jess AKA GBM) and Joshua; my brother, Curtis (Betty) Fisher; and my sister, Becky Dowell; and my favorite brother in law by default as I called him, the late Jim Dowell; my awesome, beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, wonderful, talented and fun to be around granddaughters, Brianna, Izabelle, Jayleigh, and Katarina; as well as many crazy nieces, nephews and cousins. I also leave behind a Riding Mower, snow blower, weed eater, rake, shovel, hammer, drills, a bunch of tools and a whole lot of other stuff that I am sure no one will know what to do with. I ask if anybody wants to make memorials in my name, to please make it to the family as they had my money anyway, so why should things change now. I liked to think that I would be missed, but the only thing missed will probably be the stocked refrigerator of booze. I loved and looked forward to giving the family a hug, kiss and to tell them that I loved them whenever I would see them, as I wanted them to know that they were important and meant so much to me and if anything should ever happen to any of them or me, the last thing I had told them was — I Love You. I would shake your hand with a firm grip, so you knew I was there in the moment. I would also like to say Thank You to my friends (what few I had), acquaintances, & coworkers for being a part of my life's journey. So, wear your favorite team apparel and feel free to give me the middle finger one last time and share a story of yours about me with the family.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 10, 2021 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel in Peoria. An additional visitation will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am Wednesday, August 11, 2021 also at the funeral chapel. Funeral will be on Wednesday at 11:00 am at the funeral chapel (probably when it's convenient for the family and the funeral home) with my free booze, I am sure. So, feel free to stop by and have a drink with them in memory of me and to listen to some country music from a local radio station and to play a trivia game about me. My burial will be at Swan Lake Memory Gardens, with a balloon release afterwards, Vikings colors of course. Speaking of the Minnesota Vikings, I respectfully ask that six of them be my pall bearers, so they can let me down one last time, and if they can't make it, dress as the undertaker from the WWE or just wear your favorite team jersey to carry me to the grave. And for anyone who may be wondering, YES, I wrote this so the family wouldn't have too. If you read this and didn't smile or maybe even laugh, obviously you need to reread it because you read it wrong.

To my family, You ALL made my time here on this earth so much more enjoyable. Thank You for that. Take care and I will see you when I see you, Love Ya's!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Susan G. Komen.

Online condolences may be left for Bill’s family at www.davison-fulton.com.