William J. "Bill" Dwyer

William J. “Bill” Dwyer, 66, of Geneseo, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 12, 2016, at Genesis Medical Center – Illini Campus, Silvis.  A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 17th at Vandemore Funeral Homes & Crematory, Geneseo.  Deacon Harley Chaffee will officiate and the burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo.  Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to the William Dwyer Memorial Fund.

Bill was born on May 12, 1950, in Geneseo, the son of John and Helen (VanDerBruggen) Dwyer.  He graduated from Atkinson High School in 1969.  He was united in marriage to Susan Olinger on August 30, 1975, in Atkinson, IL.  They later divorced.  Bill worked as a carpenter for Bob Johnson Construction Co. in Geneseo. 

Bill was an avid cattleman and grew up showing and raising cattle with his family. His passion spanned over 35 years breeding and showing Simmental cattle. He showed cattle all over the United States and Canada.  In 1991, at the Breeders Sweepstakes in Louisville, KY, he was named Herdsman of the Year.  Bill worked with cattle until the very end.  Bill’s greatest love was making memories with his children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his mother, Helen Dwyer of Geneseo; his children, Matthew (Jessica) Dwyer of Atkinson, IL, Molly (Mike) Secymore of Cambridge, IL, and Jess (Jadyn) Dwyer of Little York, IL; grandchildren, Mallory, Henry and Tanner Dwyer, Malcolm, Marshall and Meredith Secymore, Cash, Blaine and Kassidy Dwyer. He also leaves his sister, Doris Fleming of Rantoul, IL, and his brothers, Jim (Norma) Dwyer of Greeley, CO, Tom (Chris) Dwyer of Geneseo, John (Joy) Dwyer of Geneseo, Joe (Lisa) Dwyer of Geneseo, Mike (Janette) Dwyer of Atkinson, Bob (Cathy) Dwyer of Roseville, IL, Dennis (Jacque) Dwyer of Bettendorf, IA, and Richard (Nora) Dwyer of Muscatine, IA. His special friend is Bonnie Stanley of Geneseo and his former spouse is Susan Dwyer.

He was preceded in death by his father; granddaughter, Machala Dwyer; and his in-laws, Norm and Jean Olinger.

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