William Beesley's Obituary
William Beesley, 91, of Decatur, passed away Monday, December 22, 2014 in St. Mary’s Hospital.
Services to celebrate William’s life will be 11:00 AM Saturday, January 3, 2015 in the Star of Hope Chapel, in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service at Star of Hope. Memorials may be directed to ALS Foundation.
William was born July 21, 1923, the son of Everett Ivan and Geraldine Maze (Pletz) Beesley in East St. Louis, IL. After graduating from high school, he attended University of Missouri, receiving a B.S. degree in civil engineering. After graduation, and a short stay with the Frisco Railway, he moved to the Wabash Railway, and the railways they merged with the rest of his thirty-nine year career. He retired as regional chief engineer for Norfolk Southern Railway, in St. Louis, MO. He retired after thirty-nine years of railroading in operations, engineering, construction and maintenance. He was a life member of the Stephen Decatur Masonic Lodge, and a life member of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. William married Betty Bowman on February 16, 1960; they were married for fifty-two years. Betty Beesley preceded him in death on October 29, 2012.
William is survived by his sister Charlotte Moorehead, daughter Sandra Sue (Roger)James; grandson, David (Katie) James; granddaughter, Stephanie (David) Pekala; three great-grandchildren Logan, Aubrey, and Nora.
He was preceded in death by his wife Betty, and parents.
The family of William Pletz Beesley is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL. View the on line obituary and send condolences to the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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