William "Bill" Elsasser

William “Bill” Elsasser, age 72, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at his
home in Owasso, Oklahoma. Bill is survived by his children, Nicolle (Ron) and Shaun
(Amanda); and his grandchildren, Laurel, Grant, Thomas, and Louis.
He was diagnosed with end-stage kidney cancer in July 2019. Walking this final journey with
courage, grace, and dignity, Bill endured radiation, immunotherapy, and surgery over a 12-week
period in attempts to overcome the disease. In late September, following surgery on a spinal
tumor, Bill shifted his focus to pain relief and comfort. Under the watchful guidance of
Physician’s Choice Hospice and the staff at Brookdale-Owasso, Bill was able to achieve
temporary relief while the complications due to the cancer continued their inevitable march. The
family wishes to thank Bill’s entire medical team, from initial doctors at Swedish American
Hospital to those in Oklahoma, who offered professional care with compassion, comfort, and
kindness during the final six months of his life.
Bill was born in Platteville, Wisconsin July 14, 1947, and grew up in Belvidere, Illinois. He was
the son of William and Ruth (Knebel) Elsasser, who both predeceased him. After graduating
from Belvidere High School, Bill served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.
In 1976, he married Jeanne (White), who predeceased him. Bill was employed for several
different grocery store companies in the Northern Illinois area throughout his life, most recently
Hilander Foods in Rockford. He was an avid sports fan in general and particularly followed the
Chicago Bears and Chicago White Sox. After retirement, Bill found great joy in watching
sports, fishing, and spending time with family and friends. He was proud to call Belvidere home
and cherished the tremendous bond he developed with those close friends in his neighborhood.
Family and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Thursday, February 20th at
11:00am at the Community Building of Boone County on 1 st Street. In lieu of flowers, the family is
requesting that donations be made to White Sox Charities in Bill’s name.

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