William 'Bill' Sharkey

BRADFORD — William “Bill” Owen Sharkey, 78, of Bradford passed away Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, at his home in Bradford.

He was born April 15, 1937, in Princeton, the son of Bernard and Mary Eleanore (Johnston) Sharkey. He married Joyce Plotner on June 4, 1960.

Bill is survived by his wife of 55 years and his children, Carrie (Nesher) Sharkey Asner of Rockford, Marcia (Don) Brogly of Eureka, Sharon Sharkey of Bradford, Christine (Brian) Brown of Bloomington, Mary Ellen (Tom) Fricke of Danville and Robert (Emily) Sharkey of Bradford. He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren, Nathan Asner, Owen Asner,  Jacob Asner, Brandon (Megan) Brogly, Josh Brown, Aaron Brown, Eric Brown, Davis Brown, William Sharkey, Anita Sharkey, Eian Sharkey and Steven Sharkey, who will serve as honorary pallbearers. He also leaves four sisters and two brothers, Annette (the late Ronnie) Hulslander of Princeton, Barbara (the late Jack) Butler of Peoria, Bernadette (Harley) Rediger of Toulon, Tom (Jeri Ann) Sharkey of Granbury, Texas, Kay (the late Tom) Rowe of Rochester, Minn., and Jack (Jan) Sharkey of Granbury, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill graduated from St. John the Baptist Grade School in Bradford and Bradford High School. He was a lifelong member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church of Bradford.

For many years he was a member of Bradford School Board and a trustee on the Milo Township Board. He was a member and board member of the Bureau County Farm Bureau. He was also a member of the Bureau County Pork Producers, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Knights of Columbus and the Bradford Rescue Squad Board. He was named the Bureau County Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year in 1973.

Bill was a lifelong farmer and knew from an early age that all he ever wanted to do was farm. He remembered as a child running through wheat fields for sheer joy of it. He enjoyed every challenging, worrisome, joyful minute of farming. He believed that farm life was the greatest gift that he could give to his family. He was proud to be the fourth generation steward of a farm that has been in the family for 161 years.

His favorite pastimes included visiting with family and friends, playing cards, trap shooting and hunting, and woodworking.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Bradford with Father Cyr officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Grant-Johnson Funeral Home, Bradford, where a rosary will be recited at 4 p.m.

Memorials may be made to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, the Leet Memorial Methodist Church of Bradford or the Bradford Rescue Squad.

Online condolences may be left at www.grant-johnsonfh.com.