William Eichenauer

Memorials may be made to the Millikin University Center for Entrepreneurship, the Culinary Arts Institute at Richland Community College, and the Lincoln Square Theatre. Bill was born August 6, 1929 in Decatur, the son of Harold Lyn and Marianna (Rucker) Eichenauer. He married Nancy Lee Fisher on August 8, 1953 in Port Washington, NY. He leaves his loving wife Nancy; sisters, Betty Peters (Roy) of Paris, IL, and Mary Jane Babb (Rob); sons, Tom (Gloria) and Lee (Toni); daughters Beth Stringer, Patty Jones, and Sue Allen (John); and 17 grandchildren, all of Decatur. A lifelong Decatur resident, Bill was in the Class of 1947 at Decatur High School, and received a BS in Engineering Administration from Millikin University in 1951. He served in the US Army from 1951-53, performing tests and experimental work on Radar in conjunction with Army Field Forces Board IV Sperry Gyroscope Co. and Raytheon Corp. Field Engineers at Ft. Bliss, TX and White Sands, NM. Eichenauer Services, Inc. (ESI) is a three-generation family business established by Bill and his father, Harold, in 1955 as an electrical contracting and commercial food equipment service company. Bill purchased his father's share of the business in 1972, serving as chairman of the board until 2004, when the company was purchased by his sons, Tom and Lee. Bill's leadership in the commercial food equipment service industry helped establish the Commercial Food Equipment Service Association (CFESA) in 1963, where he served as president from 1969-71 and 1983-85. He was instrumental in developing Tech Trac 80, a national technical training program at the Northwood Institute, and garnered national recognition with the Presidential Distinguished Service Award from (CFESA) in 1977, and the Outstanding Top Service Company in the nation by Vulcan Hart Corp. Louisville, KY, in 1988. ESI was also recognized as the Decatur Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year in 1981, and was named the Illinois Small Business of the Year by Loyola University in 2002. A tireless supporter of Millikin University for fifty-seven years, Bill served as president of the local fraternal chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Millikin Quarterback Club, and served as chairman for the Millikin Annual Fund Drive, Capital Fund Drive, and Centennial Committee. He was elected to the Millikin Board of Trustees in 1993, and continued to serve as an Emeritus trustee. Of all his volunteer involvement at the university, Bill's favorite was running the scoreboard for Millikin football and basketball games. For his service to the university, Bill received the Alumni Loyalty Award in 1966 and the Alumnus of the Year in 1996. Bill's commitment to education extended throughout the community. He served on the Advisory Council for establishment of the Community College of Decatur (Richland), the Vocational Education Task Force for the State of Illinois Department of Education, and the Advisory Council to the District 61 Area Vocational Center. He recently worked to establish the Center for Creative Learning and the Culinary Institute at Richland Community College, which will offer classes in Fall 2008. Bill's dedication to revitalizing historic areas of Decatur led to the establishment of the Oakwood Business Association where he served as chairman, and the Olde Towne Redevelopment Corporation for the City of Decatur that offers funding to homeowners for property improvements in the West End. His efforts to influence the creation of the West Main Corridor resulted in the completion of the first phase in 2007. Bill continued to serve on the Lincoln Square Theatre board as past chairman to support ongoing efforts to renovate the historic theatre. Bill was past chairman of the Community Investment Corporation of Decatur, and was elected to the board of trustees for First National Bank, First Decatur Bancshares (now Busey Bank) in 1992. A member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Bill served as Deacon, Elder and president of the Board of Trustees. For all of his dedication to the Decatur community, Bill was named the Citizen of the Year by the city of Decatur in 2007. Bill took pleasure from woodworking, gardening and was an avid rock hound. He thoroughly enjoyed hunting for gems in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina during family vacations, and was grateful for his role as "Head Guru" on camping trips across the country with the nine "Guru" families. Bill's concern for the plight of America's wolf population led to his involvement in establishing the wolf exhibit at Scovill Zoo. As a husband, father and grandfather, (Opa" to his seventeen grandchildren) Bill took great pride in his family, and worked to instill a strong sense of self. He lived by four basic tenets: worship God, work hard, cherish family and give back to the community. His selfless passion for living, voracious desire to keep learning, and the deep love he held for his family and the city he called home are treasured legacies from a man who lived an incredible life. Condolences may be left to the family at www.brintlingerandearl.com "
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