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Funeral: 12 noon on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Interment: Orchard Hill Cemetery, Louisville
Visitation: 11 a.m. until 12 noon on Thursday at the funeral home
Bill D. Ikemire, age 94, of Louisville, Illinois, passed away Friday evening, May 16, 2025, at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.
He was born August 12, 1930, in Louisville, the son of Everet and Irene (Farris) Ikemire. He was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Kittle on December 7, 1950, in Cisne, and together they shared 74 wedding anniversaries until her recent passing on March 19, 2025.
Bill served as Vice President and General Manager of Louisville Seed House for 45 years. He was a hardworking and gentle man who deeply loved his family and passed along his strong work ethic to his children. Fulfilling a long-time dream, Bill and Mary Ellen spent their winters in Florida, a season of life they truly treasured. His passion for sports never faded. Bill continued playing in a slow-pitch softball league in Florida right up until the age of 80. He was a dedicated Lakers fan and member of the Louisville Methodist Church.
He is survived by his children: Bill (Becky) Ikemire of Clay City, Diane (Jerry) Frye of Louisville, Myrna (Joe) Etchison of Flora, and Greg (Debbie) Ikemire of Effingham; 10 grandchildren: Scott (Elizabeth), Melissa, Mike (Angie), Derek (Sydney), Brock (Tiffany), Mackenzie, Bryce, Carson, Kendall, and Will (Kenzie); 10 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; and 2 sisters-in-law: Mary Katherine Kittle of Flora and Kathryn Kittle of Flora.
He was preceded in passing by his parents; his wife: Mary Ellen Ikemire; 2 daughters: Nancy Butler and Pam Casolari; 2 grandchildren: Meagan Casolari and unborn Baby Butler; 5 sisters: Evelyn Toliver, Virginia Welch, Lillian Ikemire, Betty Wattles, and Helen Bible; 2 brothers: Dean Ikemire and Jean Ikemire; a sister-in-law: Geneva Block; and 3 brothers-in-law: Lawrence Kittle, Don “Red” Kittle, and Everette Kittle.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora with Pastor Mark Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Orchard Hill Cemetery, Louisville. A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until 12 noon on Thursday at the funeral home. Rather than purchasing flowers or other gift items, the family suggests the most meaningful way to honor Bill’s memory is through a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and these will be accepted through the funeral home. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com
Oct 10, 1927 - Jun 4, 2025
May 21, 1980 - Jun 3, 2025
Nov 20, 1936 - May 30, 2025
Nov 6, 1947 - May 25, 2025
Dec 13, 1960 - May 8, 2025
Diane, Myrna and Families: We are sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you and all the Ikemire family. May God comfort you as you grieve your father as well as your mother. They are together again 🙏❤️
He was the best!! Loved his family and gave us all the best gift on showing what true selfless love was.. He made sure his wife did not go after him. Once she passed on 3/19/25 and he knew his kids were going to be fine, he died with a broken heart to be with the love of his life and his girls!
We are so sorry to hear about Bill's passing—prayers for the family with love and comfort.
We are keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers, and sending hugs and love!! We love all of you. Your dad was a good uncle to us all.❤️
Prayers and hugs for his family!
Bill and Mary were always good to me and were lovely to visit with when we lived in Florida. I am sorry to hear of their passing and send the family all our love. Rest in peace, Montana and Family
Worked for Bill at the seedhouse while in High School He was a great man to work for . A good friend of my father's until his passing. God bless his family
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.
A good and honest man. May he rest in peace.
mr bill was good a good guy my aunt katholene and my uncle hollis wright and bob colman all worked with him that was years back when work was hard handling sacks of beans and some dirty jobs but i want to thank him for his servie to the community of clay county.
We're so very sorry for your loss. With our deepest sympathy. Sending prayers and love to the family ❤️
Writing this isn’t easy. Bill and Mary Ellen were the best set of bonus grandparents a person could ever ask for. They never once made me feel like I wasn’t apart of their family. From a very young age they have always included me in all of the family gatherings as if I was one of their own. We may not share the same blood, but that didn’t matter to them. They were truly the most selfless and caring people ever. They always asked me about college, Bill even joked with me one of the last times I saw him, that he didn’t ever want to have to see me (I am going to school to work in the Cath lab)! Their home holds so many memories for me as a child. I am so thankful to the entire Ikemire family for including me as one of their own. No holiday or family gathering will ever be the same without them, however I know that they want us to continue to love the way they did. I know they’re having the best family reunion up there with their girls. Rest easy Grandpa and Grandma Ike.
He was a great and wonderful friend and he was very proud of his family and friends and I am so sorry for your loss I will pray that God will give you all a comfort hand during the loss of your Dad
Frank & Bright Funeral Home
and Cremation Services
500 North Main Street
Flora, Illinois 62839
Phone : (618) 662-2141
Fax: (618) 662-4600
Email: [email protected]
