William Oliver 7-11-24

PHOTO

William “Bill” L. Oliver, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, June 21, 2024, at the Lutheran Home.

Bill was born July 15, 1946, in Chaffee to Lawrence and Alma Kiehlhofner Oliver.

At 8 years old, Bill moved to Cape Girardeau and attended St. Mary’s Grade School. It was there where he met JoAnn Fornkohl. Bill and JoAnn became sweethearts in sixth grade and eventually married in 1972. Over the next 53 years, their lives were filled with love, travel, friends and the birth of their son, Brad Oliver.

After attending high school at Notre Dame, Bill continued his education at Southeast Missouri State College, where he attained a business degree. Bill and JoAnn moved to Baltimore, Maryland, to start his career in the insurance business. Later, they moved to St. Louis and, finally, settled in Carbondale, Illinois, where they lived until 2019.

Bill started his own successful insurance agency in 1980, called Oliver & Associates. He was known for his honesty, intelligence, wit and trustworthiness by his customers and friends. He was involved in the community as the president of the Chamber of Commerce, president of Rotary, president of the Carbondale Business Development Corporation and president of Southern Illinois Independent Agents Group.

Bill was an avid golfer, lover of dogs (Molly) and family man. You could find Bill and JoAnn with their large group of friends traveling, having fun and making lifelong memories. Bill was also well-known for his karaoke renditions of Elvis Presley.

Bill and JoAnn enjoyed going to their vacation home in Gulf Shores, Alabama, making it a second home. Friends and family will remember Bill as giving, funny and “full of life.”

Survivors include his wife, JoAnn Oliver of Cape Girardeau; a son, Brad Oliver of Gilbert, Arizona; two sisters, Mary DeHaan of Memphis, Tennessee, and Carolyn Ronza of Houston, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Paul Oliver.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Allan Saunders officiating.

Private entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.