William Robert Roeder Obituary

William Robert Roeder, Age 98 U. S. Navy VeteranWilliam R. Roeder passed of natural causes on Friday, March 24, 2023, at home, where he lived independently. Although halfway through his 99th year, it still feels he left too soon.

Bill is now reunited with Frances, the love of his life, who he survived for eight years. He joins his parents William and Christine, sisters Marcella and Bernadette, brother Joseph, and grandson Daniel. He leaves behind daughter Janet Mallo and sons William (Paula), Michael (Jeanine), and Steven (Tammy) Roeder. Grandpa Bill is survived and dearly missed by grandchildren Nora (Daniel) Hernandez, Matthew (Michelle) Roeder, Melissa (Sean) Sheeran, Nicole Roeder, Stephanie Golden, Martin (Meghan) Roeder, Meaghan (Thomas) Panfil, Nathaniel (Jessica) Roeder, Danielle (Francis) Costanzo, and Ethan Roeder. Thirteen great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, for whom he often served as a second father, and many friends also miss him greatly.

Bill was born in Chicago on September 21, 1924 to humble beginnings. He worked odd jobs to help his family make ends meet during the Depression. Bill graduated from the third high school he attended – a story too long to tell here – and joined the Navy the day after he turned 18.

Boot camp in Memphis led to the Navy's V-12 officer training program and institutions Bill could not otherwise dream of attending, including UNC Chapel Hill. Transfers west brought him to the Marshall Islands while they were testing atomic bombs. Reductions in the post war service returned Bill to Chicago where he enrolled at the U of I at Navy Pier. When Bill's social life interfered with his studies, he found a job at a packaging company on the south side of Chicago. It was there he met Frances, and Bill's life changed forever.

Bill and Fran married in July 1949 and their house soon filled with children, their own and nieces and nephews they helped raise when Fran's sister became ill. Bill and Fran were devoted and loving parents. Through the baby boom, parish events, bridge games, little league, bowling, family vacations and the like, they watched their children grow, leave, and have kids of their own. Through it all their house was the center of family life. Christmas celebrations were especially magical with presents for the kids, and then grandkids, stacked waist high. They always put family first, swapping their dream home near retirement age for a two-flat so they could live above their grandchildren and help whenever they could.

Bill found success as a salesman and sales manager in packaging. Simply not wanting to retire, he continued to call on long-standing customers until, at the age of 88, Bill finally let the younger guys take over his accounts. Living the American dream can be hard to see through the blur of daily triumphs, tragedies, and struggles, but it can also appear much clearer in retrospect. As Bill often said, the days may be long, but the years go by fast.

After Fran passed in 2015, time began to catch up. Bill lost his brother Joe (at 94), sisters Marcella (at 98) and Bernadette (at 100), and other friends and colleagues. Although he quipped it was lonely at the top, Bill maintained a uniformly sunny disposition, leavened with humor, grace, and wit. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren often came over and entertained. His refrigerator was festooned with notes, drawings, and proclamations of their love. Pictures of his extended family surrounded him. He welcomed grand-dogs. When asked if he had time for visitors, he would first "check his schedule" – and then confirm he could pencil you in. A lifelong reader, he also spent time with the likes of Patterson, Grisham, and Connelly, devouring 3 to 4 books a week. He remained razor sharp to the end. His last book, left open on the kitchen table, was almost finished.

Visitation Thursday 3-8 p.m.

Funeral Friday 8:45 a.m. from the Robert J. Sheehy & Sons Funeral Home, 9000 W. 151st Street, Orland Park, IL to St. Michael Church, Mass 9:30 a.m.

Interment Queen of Heaven CemeteryIn lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated.

Please leave a memory for the family on William's Tribute Wall; your stories will bring comfort to his family.