William McDaniel

William K. McDaniel
July 2, 1945 – March 17, 2025

Bill was born in Mount Vernon, IL, July 2, 1945. He is survived by Suzy (Mary Sue Dwyer), his devoted wife of 57 years. High school sweethearts, they married on November 11, 1967.

Bill served his country for 21 years in the Air National Guard, retiring as a Technical Sergeant. He worked on jets, played poker and made lifetime friends. He worked for the Illinois Department of Transportation as an Engineering Tech for 34 years, assuring the roads were in tip-top shape and keeping you safe during snow storms.

Upon retirement, Bill and Suzy built a home near Lake Shelbyville and moved from their Oreana home of 24 years. He worked road construction for many years, just to keep busy. Bill and Suzy spent countless winters in Florida watching the sun set on the Gulf and enjoying fresh oranges, strawberries and garden veggies in the middle of winter.

Bill was a fan of muscle cars and motorcycles and was an avid crappie fisherman. He loved camping with his family at Bo Woods and cooking large meals over the open fire. He kept the nicest yard around and the cleanest cars on the block.

Attention to detail was paramount to Bill. The measurements for the backyard basketball hoop height and the free throw line were precise. He also did all of the measurements for the train of Amber’s wedding dress. He even made scale cardboard cutouts of potential furniture pieces so they could assess how things might fit!

Bill could turn a 3 hour lawn mowing job into a 5 hour task because of all of the neighbors coming by to visit. He never knew a stranger and was always there to chat and help.

Of all the wonderful people in Bill’s life, there was no one more important to Bill than his wife Suzy. She was his world and was by his side to his very last breath.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his daughters, Amber (Chris) Ooms of Greenville, OH and Jill (Jason) Overholt of Bloomington, IL and grandchildren, Duncan Ooms of Boise, ID and Addison Ooms of Normal,, IL. Bill is also survived by his sister, Alice (Gary) Henderson of Paris, IL; several nieces and nephews and many friends. Bill passed his love for animals on to his children and grandchildren and is survived by several family pets.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Lena (Butler) McDaniel; sister, Mary Baird and brothers, Charles McDaniel and David McDaniel.

We would like to give a special thank you to everyone at Martin Health Care Center and Carle Hospice. Their kindness and care was unending.

There will be no services at this time, a private service will be held at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded by Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington.

To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

If you would like to honor Bill, a donation may be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation in Bill’s memory.

And he would love for you all to get outside, wash your car and cut your grass at the prescribed height of 3 3/8”.