William Long

WILLIAM (BILL) E. LONG ROCK FALLS- William "Bill" E. Long, 71, died Sunday, April, 19, 2009 at his residence. He was employed as a crane operator at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. William was born February 13, 1938 in Big Creek AR. The son of Marion E. and Pencie J. (White) Long. He married Joyce I. Handel on January 30, 1955 in Sterling. He was a member of Como Baptist Church. Survivors include six daughters, Katherine Freitas of Bedford, TX, Laurie (Ed) DeCrane, Teresa (Dana) Meiners and Janet (Art) Ruiz, all of Sterling, Lisa Long and Melissa (Joshua) Johnson, both of Rock Falls; one sister, Marian (Kenneth) Boesen of Sterling; fourteen grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, William E. Long, Jr. and Emmett L. Long and two sisters, Frances McLendon and Alma Modena Long. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, April, 24, 2009 at the Schilling Funeral Home, Sterling with the Reverend Brent Cloyd, pastor of Como Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 5-8 PM at the funeral home. A memorial has been established to Como Baptist Church and Hospice of the Rock River Valley.