REV. WILLIAM ANTHONY HESSELDENZ

VeteranRev. William Hesseldenz

Rev. William HesseldenzRev. William Anthony Hesseldenz, 81, of Rushville died at 9:41 p.m. Nov. 3, 2009, at Culbertson Memorial Hospital.

He was born Aug. 4, 1928, a son of Anthony N. and Louise Chilton Hesseldenz. He married Barbara Ann Chapin on Feb. 15, 1952, in Carlinville. She survives.

Also surviving are one son, Edward Charles Hesseldenz; one daughter, Janice Marie Cavaness; two brothers, James Hesseldenz and Michael Hesseldenz; one sister, Mary Trump; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Cynthia Hesseldenz; one sister, Katherine Ann Mabus; and one brother, Robert Hesseldenz.

He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army with the 169th M.P. Co. in Okinawa and Missouri Air National Guard in Jefferson Barracks, Mo.

He graduated from Carlinville Community High School and Blackburn College in Carlinville, Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville with a bachelor degree and after two and one half years course of study from Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston.

He was employed at Defense Mapping and Aerospace Center in St. Louis, Mo., for 33 years as a cartographer until retiring in 1983.

He was a licensed local pastor serving at United Methodist churches from 1985 until the present. He served in St. Jacob, Coffeen, Fillmore, Rushville Hope Charge and most recently was pastor of Bluff Springs United Methodist Church. He also was a teacher’s aide for Pact Head Start in Beardstown.

He was a baseball and basketball coach in Jefferson Barracks, boys/girls club baseball coach for little league, president of Wilson School PTA, a member and choir master in the men’s choir at St. Margaret Mary Church, Sunday school and Bible study teacher at Good Shepherd Church, all in Granite City.

He was a member of Rushville First United Methodist Church where he served as Sunday school and Bible study teacher. He was named Pastor Emeritus of First United Methodist Church. He also served as treasurer of Schuyler American Cancer Society from 1990-2001.

Services were held Saturday at Rushville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Steve Pichaske officiating. Burial was in New Calvary Cemetery in Carlinville. Military services were held by a U.S. Army Honors Guard and Schuyler American Legion Post #4. Worthington Funeral Home in Rushville was in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Bluff Springs United Methodist Church.

Condolences may be sent to www.worthingtonfh.com.

 

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 11/11/2009