Submitted by: John C. Monk
William
J. DeFreese
Oct. 20, 1952 - July 31, 2010
OSCEOLA - William James "Bill" DeFreese, 57, of
Osceola, died after a brief illness at 9:10 a.m. Saturday, July
31, 2010, in Elkhart General Hospital. He was born October 20,
1952, in South Bend, to Louis J. "Louie" and Elnora
(Plank) DeFreese. Bill was a field superintendent for Ancon
Construction of Goshen for 25 years. He was a member of Elkhart
Moose Lodge #599 and played in the Moose golf league. He was also
an avid bowler, and played on several area leagues as well. On
September 11, 1982, in Elkhart, IN, he married Cherie L. Wilson,
who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Sarah J. (Jerry)
Ferris of Sacramento, CA; son, Scott A. (Katie) DeFreese of
Indianapolis, IN; sister, Cheryl F. DeFreese of Mishawaka, IN;
and father, Louis J. "Louie" (Pauline) DeFreese of
Elkhart. He was preceded in death by his mother, Elnora, and
brother, Steve DeFreese. Services will be at noon Tuesday in
Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin Street, Elkhart, where friends
may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today and one hour before services.
Burial will follow services at St. Vincent dePaul Cemetery,
Elkhart. There will be a Moose memorial ritual performed at 7 pm.
at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked
that memorial donations be made to either Michigan
Oncology/Hematology, River Bend Cancer Services, St. Joseph
County, United Cancer Services of Elkhart County or to Elkhart
Moose Lodge #599.
Published in South Bend Tribune on August 2, 2010