William Shilhanek

BILL SHILHANEK

Ottumwa

William L. Shilhanek, 91, of Ottumwa, died at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Society-Ottumwa.

He was born Aug. 3, 1925, in Tama, Iowa, to Frederick Otto and Gertrude Marie Aldrich Shilhanek. He married Mary Ann McDonough on Dec. 27, 1955. She preceded him in death on Aug. 6, 2011.

Bill was a World War II veteran, having served with the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater. After starting as a crane operator, he then worked for 35 years for the Milwaukee Railroad before retiring as an engineer in 1991.

He was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and United Transportation Union Local 195. Bill was a professional photographer who loved boating, trains and the state of Montana.

Surviving are his children, Tim (Roxy) Shilhanek of Billings, Mont., Jay (Alice) Shilhanek of Bellingham, Wash., Amy Shilhanek of Ottumwa and Drew (Becky) Shilhanek of Carol Stream, Ill.; seven grandchildren, Ian, Ryan, Corey, Kelly, Karl, Alec and Cayden; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Sean Shilhanek; three brothers, Bernard, Terry and Frederick Shilhanek; and a sister, Therese Prusha.

Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, with Father Patrick Hilgendorf presiding. Inurnment will be at a later date in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Tama.

The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Reece Funeral Home in Ottumwa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Samaritan Society-Ottumwa or Good Samaritan Hospice.