William “Bill” Price, age 79 of Salem, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at his home. How do you sum up a lifetime in a paragraph? Papa was not all that complex; he enjoyed the simple things in life. He enjoyed going on trips across the country, especially the canyons of Colorado and Utah. He followed Selmaville Grade School and Salem High School Athletics for many years. He took a vested and active interest in the lives of the students. He would tell you that he was not a preacher, yet spent nearly every Sunday of his adult life behind a pulpit. He preached in dozens of churches of varying denominations as a pulpit supply. He finally supplied one pulpit at Emmanuel Baptist in Salem for nineteen years. He was humble to the point that he never lost sight of the fact that we are not deserving of God’s abundant grace. Even in his declining health, he never failed to share The Gospel with the doctors and nurses that cared for him. It is not often that a person that is dying asks for an unselfish wish, but his desire was to share one final sermon. Thank God that he was given the strength to carry out that desire. To sum up his life in a few words: He first, and foremost, loved his God. Secondly, he loved his wife; then his family, friends, and country. Make no mistake, if he knew you for 50 years or 50 minutes, that he loved you as well. It would be his fervent desire that if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, that you would make that decision. He would tell you that there is absolutely a Heaven and would want nothing more than for you to be reunited with him someday. He was currently a member at Odin First Baptist Church. Bill was the first respiratory therapist at Salem Township Hospital and helped in establishing the respiratory department.
Celebration of Life services will be held on Monday, February 28, 2022 at 5:00 pm at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem with Bob Ward and Leland Redfern officiating. There will be a time for friends to visit with the family from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the service. Private burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Dix. Memorial contributions can be made to SonSet Solutions Missionary Radio or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and left at Crouse Funeral Home in Salem. Online condolences can be made at www.CrouseFH.com.
He was united in marriage to Judy (Pelzer) Price on October 1, 1966 in Darien, IL by both of their fathers, and she survives in Salem. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Donna Bailey and husband Jack of Salem, son, Bill Price and wife Amy of Eldorado; grandchildren, Cassie, Cynthia, Shawn, and Seth Bailey and Halle, Ben and Beau Price; brother, Karl Price of McHenry; sister, Martha Schlagel of Downers Grove; sister-in law, Karen Zeck and husband Hank of Indiana; and several nieces and nephews.
Bill was born on February 20, 1943 in Chicago, IL the son of Harry and Henrietta (Steinkamp) Price. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Joreen Etta Bane and husband Carl; brother, Darrell Price and wife Yvonne; brother-in-law, Bob Schlagel; granddaughter, Carrie Bailey; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Art and Florence Pelzer.
