William (Bill) Howard Hills, 97, of Lena passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2022 at Freeport Memorial Hospital.

Bill was born to Forrest and Minnie (nee Trueblood) Hills in Gordon, Nebraska on January 29, 1924. He graduated from Gordon High School and entered the Veterinary Corp of the U.S. Army when he was age 18 at Fort Robinson, Colorado. From there he joined the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army and was shipped to Italy to serve in the Po Valley theater of WWII from 1942 – 45. He earned the Bronze Star, the European Medal with 2 battle stars - Apennine and Po Valley, Good Conduct Medal, the American Medal.

After he was discharged from the Army, Bill attended Colorado A & M College (now Colorado State Univ.) at Fort Collins, Colorado where he studied Ag Education. There he met Grace Busjahn of Orangeville, IL. They were married August 27, 1949.

Bill and Grace started their life together in Rochelle, IL. where Bill taught agriculture at Rochelle's high school for 5 years. Then he was hired to teach ag at Naperville High School in Naperville, Illinois where he also taught horticulture, landscaping, greenhouse management, auto shop, mechanical drawing, and was the advisor for Naperville's chapter of FFA. During this time, he and Grace resided in Wheaton, Illinois where they raised their 2 children, Janet and Dean. Bill continued his education as he worked on a Master's Degree in Ag Education through the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and took many other classes over the years to better equip himself as a teacher.

He retired from teaching in 1980, and he and Grace moved to their farm in Lena, IL where he enjoyed being a beef farmer. As the years went by, Bill took on work landscaping for McKay Nurseries. He also volunteered for the County Extension Agency and Lena Evangelical Free Church.

Bill always had a love of learning and a love for people. His life of service and unconditional love could be held up as a godly example for anyone.

Bill is lovingly remembered by his children Janet (Everett) Overmyer and Dean (Kym) Hills, grandchildren Beth Overmyer, Rachel (Ben) Anderson, Whitney Hills, KayLynn (Matt) Schuetzner, great-grandchildren Brianna and Seth Anderson, and Dean Schuetzner, his sister-in-law Marcene (nee Busjahn) Eshelman, many nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces.

He is preceded in death by his parents Forrest and Minnie Hills, his wife Grace Elizabeth Hills (nee Busjahn), his sister and brothers Sarah and Wayne McMurtry, Wendall and Dorothy Hills, Bob and Lillian Hills, and Dan and Marion Hills, brothers- and sisters-in-law Rev. Dwight and Kathryn (nee Busjahn) Bennett, Frank (Marcene) Eshelman, and Tom and Marion (nee Busjahn) McLeRoy.

The family wants to thank the staff at Oakley Courts, Freeport, IL for the wonderful care they gave Bill during his time with them.

The visitation will be held at the Leamon's Funeral Home, 210 W. Main St.. Lena, IL., on February 4th from 4-7pm. A celebration of life service will be at the Lena Evangelical Free Church on February 5th at 10:00am. The service will be followed by the interment at Rock Lily Cemetery in Winslow, IL. After interment, those who wish can attend a light lunch and sharing time.

Any monetary gift given in Bill's memory will be donated to the FFA Chapter at the Le-Win High School.