Gerstner, William Carl.doc

William C. Gerstner III DECATUR - William C. Gerstner III, 84, of Decatur, retired Illinois Power Executive Vice President

and U.S. Navy Veteran, passed away at 9:20 p.m. Saturday, June 7, 2008, at Fair Havens Christian Home. A memorial

service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by: Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, IL. For further

information contact Jan Gerstner at 262-646-8965. Condolences may be left to the family at brintlingerandearl.com

Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at www.legacy.com/herald-review/Obituaries.asp

Source: Decatur Herald and Review, June 10, 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

William “Bill” Carl Gerstner III died June 7, 2008, at the Fair Havens Christian Home, Decatur, IL.

Bill was born June 3, 1924 in Detroit MI, of William C. Gerstner II and Mamie Marie Schneider. He graduated from the

Ottawa IL High School in 1942.

Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 as an aviation cadet. He became a naval aviator attaining the rank of

Ensign, flying torpedo bombers off aircraft carriers in the North Atlantic in WW-II.

He met Anna F. Bertun, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant and nurse, and married her on March 17, 1945.

After the war, Bill became a Registered Professional Engineer and went to work for Illinois Power Company in La Salle

IL.

Their first son, Jan, was born in Peru, IL. They moved to Galesburg IL where Bill became the Operating Superintendent.

Their second son, William C. Gerstner IV was born in 1950.

In 1966 the family moved to Decatur where Bill became Supervisor of Operations. He also served as Director of Labor

Relations, Manager of Energy Supply, and became Vice President in 1972 and Executive Vice President in 1973.

Bill also served on the IP Board of Directors and oversaw all phases of planning, construction and operation of the

Clinton Nuclear Power Station. He represented IP during the CBS-TV “60-Minutes” attack in 1979. He retired in 1989.

In retirement Bill spent many happy hours volunteering at the Rock Springs Center for Environmental Discovery. He

helped establish a Business Information Center at the Decatur Public Library, and volunteered at the SBA’s SCORE

organization, fostering small business owners in Decatur. In 1993 he helped charter the African-American

Genealogical and Cultural Society. He tutored adult reading for Project Read since 1989. These accomplishments

resulted in the Service to Mankind Award for him in 1997.

Bill was preceded in death by his son, William C. Gerstner IV and sister Shirley.

He is survived and deeply missed by his beloved wife Anna, his son Jan, daughter-in-law Kay, three grandsons

Michael, Ethan and Tanner, and cherished nieces and nephews and their children.

A memorial ceremony will be held at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, 2827 N. Oakland Ave, Decatur IL, Saturday,

June 28, 2008 at 4pm. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Gerstner requested that donations be made to the Macon County

Conservation Foundation (Rock Springs), 3939 Nearing Ln, Decatur IL 62521.

For further information, contact Jan Gerstner, 262 646-8965.

“With feet to take me where I’d go,

With eyes to see the sunset’s glow,

With ears to hear what I would know,

Oh God, forgive me when I whine.

I’m blessed indeed, the world is mine. “

Gerstner, William Carl.doc

- from “Forgive Me,” by Ahmed Bukhatir

Source: Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home website, June 22, 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

William Carl "Bill" Gerstner III

DECATUR - William "Bill" Carl Gerstner III died June 7, 2008, at the Fair Havens Christian Home, Decatur, IL. Bill was

born June 3, 1924 in Detroit MI, of William C. Gerstner II and Mamie Marie Schneider. He graduated from the Ottawa

IL High School in 1942. Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17 as an aviation cadet. He became a naval aviator

attaining the rank of Ensign, flying torpedo bombers off aircraft carriers in the North Atlantic in WW-II. He met Anna F.

Bertun, a U.S. Navy Lieutenant and nurse, and married her on March 17, 1945.

After the war, Bill became a Registered Professional Engineer and went to work for Illinois Power Company in La Salle

IL. Their first son, Jan, was born in Peru, IL. They moved to Galesburg IL where Bill became the Operating

Superintendent. Their second son, William C. Gerstner IV was born in 1950. In 1966 the family moved to Decatur

where Bill became Supervisor of Operations. He also served as Director of Labor Relations, Manager of Energy Supply,

and became Vice President in 1972 and Executive Vice President in 1973. Bill also served on the IP Board of

Directors and oversaw all phases of planning, construction and operation of the Clinton Nuclear Power Station. He

represented IP during the CBS-TV "60-Minutes" attack in 1979. He retired in 1989.

In retirement Bill spent many happy hours volunteering at the Rock Springs Center for Environmental Discovery. He

helped establish a Business Information Center at the Decatur Public Library, and volunteered at the SBA's SCORE

organization, fostering small business owners in Decatur. In 1993 he helped charter the African-American

Genealogical and Cultural Society. He tutored adult reading for Project Read since 1989. These accomplishments

resulted in the Service to Mankind Award for him in 1997.

Bill was preceded in death by his son, William C. Gerstner IV and sister Shirley.

He is survived and deeply missed by his beloved wife Anna, his son Jan, daughter-in-law Kay, three grandsons

Michael, Ethan and Tanner, and cherished nieces and nephews and their children.

A memorial ceremony will be held at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, 2827 N. Oakland Ave, Decatur IL, Saturday,

June 28, 2008 at 4pm. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Gerstner requested that donations be made to the Macon County

Conservation Foundation (Rock Springs), 3939 Nearing Ln., Decatur IL 62521. Condolences may be left to the family

at brintlingerandearl.com.

Obituary written by family members. Online guest book at www.legacy.com/herald-review/Obituaries.asp

Source: Decatur Hearld and Review, June 22, 2008