William Bracken - Online Memorial Website

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William Bracken
Born in Iowa
66 years
127320
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     William R. “Bill” Bracken, 66, of Brimfield, passed away at 11:40 a.m. on Sunday, March 13, 2011, at home.
    
Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 17, 2011, at Clary Funeral Home, 428 West McClure Avenue, in Peoria, with Pastor Howard A. Love officiating. Visitation will be at the funeral home from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, prior to services.
    
Bill was born in Fort Madison, IA on April 19, 1944, a son of R. F. and Mary M. (Stewart) Bracken. They preceded him in death, along with his sister, Frances Braden. He married Sharon L. Bishop on August 20, 1972 in Peoria. She survives.
    
He is also survived by his daughter, Billie Jo "BJ" Bracken of Brimfield; son, Jeremy “Buster” Bracken of Peoria; sisters, Marjorie Hymbaugh and Spring Kay Swogger, both of Canton, OH; brothers, Dale (Angie) Bracken of Peoria and Thomas (Margie) Bracken of Canton, OH; and his granddaughter, Kennedy Rutherford of Brimfield.
    
Bill retired in 2004 as a roofing contractor for Peoria Roofing. After his retirement, he had his own remodeling business.
    
He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving from 1962 to 1965. Upon his discharge, he purchased his first Pontiac GTO.
    
Bill was a member of the Heart of Illinois GTO Club, the National Hot Rod Association and the American Hot Rod Association. He loved driving his GTO and was well known for his burnouts.
     He loved mowing his lawn, 50s and 60s music, bowling, cars, watching drag racing and going to car shows - especially the GTO Nationals and the Woodward Dream Cruise.
     Bill was very handy and could build anything. He was very resourceful and could figure out how to do anything. He loved spending time in his garage fixing things and working on cars.
     He will be remembered as a kind, generous, loving man of honor. He was a wonderful husband, dad and grandpa.
    
Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to the Kennedy Rutherford Education Fund at CEFCU.


Latest Condolences
Lynne Manley & Family Friends March 18, 2011
Sharon & Family,

Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.  We send you our sincerest sympathies as we have walked this path not so long ago.  He was a great guy, now the two Bills will be back on the drag strip together.

Lynne, Scott, Christy, Will and Jimmy

Charlie & Patty Jiardina HOI GTO club March 16, 2011
We are blessed to have gotten to meet and know you. Your enthusiasm and personality illuminated our meetings. You will be missed. Our prayers are with you and your family.
Larry and Susan Smith Heart of Illinois GTO Club March 16, 2011

It was always a pleasure to see Bill at GTO events.  Anywhere we saw him, he always greeted us as a true friend.  He will be sorely missed.

-Larry and Susan

Brett and Kristie Rainwater Thinking of you March 16, 2011
Sharon and family,
We heard the VERY sad news!!  We wanted you to know that we are thinking of you and your family at this difficult time!!  We have fond memories of being in the same company of you and Bill!!  May his memory always bring you joy and happiness when you need it most!!
Thoughts and Prayers to you!!
Brett and Kristie
Dan and Trish Gale HOI GTO Club March 16, 2011
Our thoughts and prayers are with Bill's entire family. We knew Bill as members of the Heart of Illinois GTO Club and always admired his 66 GTO and enjoyed talking to him. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Dan and Trish Gale
Monticello, IL
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