William Gerstner

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 SBAs 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 Id go,With eyes to see the sunsets glow,With ears to hear what I would know, Oh God, forgive me when I whine.Im blessed indeed, the world is mine. - from Forgive Me, by Ahmed Bukhatir "
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