Louis Bill Jr.

Louis Bill, Jr. Was born on November 17, 1924 in Benson, Woodford County, Illinois. Even in 2010 Benson only had 423 people so it was obviously a small village in 1924. He was the second of two children born to Louis Bill and Carrie Poppinga. His sister Geneva had been born February 29, 1920. Some of the family stories refer to him as Junie, short for junior.

Based on Zoss (cousins of the Bill family) family stories, the family moved to Chicago in 1927. Louis first appears in the census in 1930. They lived at 2214 W. 23rd Street in Chicago. They lived down the street in 1940 at 2224. Louis was 15 by then but I dont have a record of where he went to school.  I do know that they often went back to Woodford County to visit family that stayed in that area. Louis' father had many brothers and sisters that did not relocate to Chicago.

Louis as a child visiting family in Woodford County

Through family stories and some documents that I believe are in the possession of Louis' sons. I know that Louis was drafted before he finished high school. He entered the army on December 10, 1942, less than a month after he turned 18. a fire in 1973 destroyed a majority of military records covering this time period. I do know, from family stories that he was part of the forces that landed at Normandy. This is when he was wounded. He was shot in the leg. Many of his fellow soldiers died. Louis had a pocket bible in his pants pocket. The bullet that hit him traveled through the bible before hitting his leg. Doctors said this slowed the bullet down enough that it saved his leg and maybe even his life. I heard this story and saw the bible many times as a child. That bible is in the possession of one of his sons. 

After the war Louis lived with his family. I believe by this time they lived on Rockwell. He met Shirley Kampfert attending a Lutheran church.

Louis and Shirley Kampfert, likely in front of the house on Rockwell

Louis and Shirley were married on May 19, 1951 at Peace Lutheran Church in Chicago. 

L to R Ethel Kampfert, Arnold Braasch, Violet Kampfert, Louis, Shirley, George Tolsky, Geneva (Bill) Stroud, ??
 Children - Pat Stroud and Cheryl Schmook

They would have 5 children, 3 daughters and 2 sons. Their first child was born in 1952. In 1953 they moved to the house on 62nd and Natchez in Chicago. This house stayed in the family until 2002.

Louis worked for Olivetti, a company that made typewriters and other business machines. He played the organ and had a great sense of humor. He played games and shared chocolate stars with his oldest granddaughter. He once drilled a 2 inch hole into the garage wall. When asked why, he said he didn't know. He loved camping and that became a regular family activity. He met 2 of his grandchildren but had 9 total.

Unfortunately Louis was diagnosed with cancer that had spread through his body. He passed away on February 22, 1977, just weeks after walking his 2nd daughter down the aisle. He was only 52. His youngest child, only 12. A sad coincidence is that he died 4 years to the date after his sister, who was 4 years older than him.

He was buried at Bethania Lutheran Cemetery in Justice Illinois on February 26, 1977.

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