Mr. William "Bill" D. Collis

On May 19, 2021 William D. Collis passed away at St. Mary’s Hospital in Galesburg.  He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. 

Bill was born to Clyde F. Collis and Margaret V. Carlson Collis on January 5, 1940 at Cottage Hospital in Galesburg.  Raised on a farm, he attended a one-room school at times until his parents moved to a farm in Hermon, Illinois, and he continued his education in Abingdon where he graduated from high school in 1958.  After high school he worked for the railroad briefly and then attended Western Illinois University.  Bill taught and coached for 2 years at Roseville High School.  He then went to the University of Oregon for his master’s degree and married Marcia Holtbuer.  He enjoyed a high school counseling career at Galesburg High School from 1966 until 2001.  He enjoyed sports, especially basketball, football, softball, baseball, and track. 

Bill is survived by his wife Marcia Holtbuer Collis; brother Dale (Sharon) Collis; his sister Darlene (Bruce) Hartman; his daughter Dana (Jeff) Schenkel; his 3 grandchildren Holly, Nicholas, and Eric Schenkel; his son Gary (Chris) Collis. 

He was a member of First Lutheran Church and the Knox County Retired Teachers. 

Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, May 24, 2021 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Service Galesburg Chapel.  Interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial may be given to OSF St. Mary Medical Center.  Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com. 

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