William Penuel Williams, age 91, a resident of Windsor Park in Carol Stream, Illinois, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at home.  He was born March 25, 1930, in Sidney, Montana, to Jacob and Gertrude Williams.

The Williams family homesteaded a wheat farm near Three Buttes, Montana, and Pen, as he was known, loved the farm life. His children and their cousins cherish the stories he told about his childhood, including tales about their imaginary town called Gray Wolf, about the horse named Old Dan they rode to the one-room schoolhouse, about the cow that fell through the roof of the barn, and about the T. rex lying exposed on the butte.

Bill attended Chico State University and then earned a master's degree in Civil Engineering at Stanford University. He joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and on his way to Korea, his ship was diverted to Alaska for wartime survey work. Upon returning to San Francisco, he courted Fern Etta Callahan and they were married in 1958. Shortly after Ruth Dawn and Steven Craig were born the family moved to Gridley, California, where Bill was City Engineer.

In 1972, Bill moved his family to Riverton, Wyoming, when he took another position as City Engineer. Bill and Fern planted the Neighborhood Alliance Church, provided Sunday School in the Gas Hills every Sunday afternoon, and invited prisoners and their families into their home. The family enjoyed backpacking, fishing, skiing, camping, and hunting.

Bill and Fern moved to Casper, Wyoming, in 1978 and started Drive Line Service. They built a beautiful home on Casper Mountain where Bill especially enjoyed the spectacular sunsets. Upon retirement they moved to West Chicago to be near Ruth and her family.

There were constants in Bill's life: He was a lifelong Gideon, a man of prayer, a student of the Holy Scripture, and a Ford Model T enthusiast. He enjoyed life and was devoted to his extended family.

He is survived by his wife, Fern Williams, his children, Ruth Williams Gieser and her husband Stephen, and Steven Williams and his wife Sheryl, and grandchildren Jacob and Carli Williams, Ellen Gieser, William Gieser, Emilie Williams, Charles Gieser, and Aleah Williams.

He was preceded in death by an infant son Daniel Perry Williams, his brother Clement Williams, and his parents.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at Glen Ellyn Evangelical Covenant Church, 277 Hawthorne, Glen Ellyn, Illinois.  Those who are unable to attend are invited to view livestream of the service here: Memorial Service for William Penuel Williams

Relatives and friends are invited to a reception at the church immediately following the memorial service.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com . For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.

Memorial gifts may be directed to:

The Gideons International
P.O. Box 934
Wheaton, IL 60187

or

Glen Ellyn Covenant Church
277 Hawthorne Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137