Atwater II, William Henry

bill atwaterBill was born August 28, 1951 in Galesburg, the son of William Henry and Leona Margaret Ebbing Atwater, Sr.  Bill graduated from Knoxville High School and was a member of the 1969 Championship football team.  He married Debra Marie Schweder February 14, 1998 at the campground they owned in Montello, WI.  She survives of Galesburg as does his father, Bill (Doris) Atwater of Memphis, MO.

He is also survived by six children, Bill (Cindy) Atwater, III of Wesley Chapel, FL and son, Christopher, Jason (Toya) Atwater of Galesburg and sons, Justis and Jase, Kristin (Josh) Bland of Galesburg and daughters, Makailee, Macey, and Mavery, Andrea (Dan) Klapper of Montello, WI and children, Sean, Aaron, Jesse, and Tiffany Grace, Jon (Amy) Dolgner of Montello, WI and children, Natalee and Colin, and Kristina (Joe Violetto) Dolgner of Montello, WI and children Heidi Ann and Andrew “Buddy”; one sister, Nancy Walters of Bullhead City, AZ; and two brothers, Jerry Atwater of East Galesburg and Greg (Ann) Atwater of Galesburg.  Bill is also survived by his mother in law, Dolores Schweder of Marquette, WI; a brother in law, Jon Schweder of Wautoma, WI; and a sister in law, Kristine (John) Wassong of Chicago.  Bill is also survived by his dogs “his girls” as he called them, Sassy and Sophie.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Leona Atwater in 2001; his father in law, Merrill Schweder and a brother in law, Richard Schweder.

Bill worked for the BNSF Railroad for 20 years, retiring as a conductor in 1993.  He then owned and operated the Echoes Supper Club and Campground on the Fox River in Montello, WI from 1994 to 2003.  Bill and Debra enjoyed travelling the United States during the winter.  He was also a member of the Elk’s Club, and a former member of the Jaycee’s and enjoyed playing cards and shooting pool.  He was an avid catfisherman and had a secret cheese bait.  While living in Wisconsin, Bill coached high school football for several years.  Bill enjoyed singing karaoke.  He loved to play Santa Claus, especially for the Special Olympics, the Children’s Miracle Network and Toys for Tots.

Per his wishes cremation rites will be accorded and his cremated remains scattered in the Fox River.  A celebration of life will be 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2014 at the Thomas Legacy Center at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg.  An additional celebration of life will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2015 at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin, WI.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.  Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.

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