William D. "Bill" Brickner, 79, of Scales Mound, IL, passed away, at 4:38 P/M, on Tuesday, February 2, 2016, at Midwest Medical Center, Galena, IL.

Funeral Services will be at 11 A/M, on Saturday, February 6, 2016, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, in Schapville, IL, with Pastor David Vidler officiating. Burial will be in St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Guilford Township, IL.

Visitation will be from 2 P/M to 8 P/M, on Friday, February 5, 2016, and after 10 A/M, on Saturday, at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church. The Miller & Steinke Funeral Home, Scales Mound, is in charge of arrangements.

Bill was born on January 30, 1937, in Scales Mound, the son of August and Ethel (Koester) Brickner. He was united in marriage to Janet E. Hammer, on August 4, 1956, at Zion Presbyterian Church, in Schapville.

He was a graduate of Scales Mound High School, Class of 1955. Bill was formerly employed at John Deere Dubuque Works, formerly operated Bill's Farm House Grocery in Scales Mound, formerly operated Bill's Farm House Feeds and later became a District Manager, he sold various forms of insurance, and following retirement, he and Janet started Gramp's Gourmet Pickles of Scales Mound.

In his earlier years, Bill was a pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers farm team. He loved cooking, fishing, attending his grandchildren's sporting events and was a life long participant in Coon Hound field trials. He was an avid Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs fan.

He formerly was a member and past president of the joint boards of St. John's Lutheran and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Churches for twenty (20) years, past president and member of the Scales Mound School Board for seventeen (17) years, and past president and member of the Scales Mound Lions Club.

Surviving are his wife, Janet; four (4) children, Brenda (Larry) Werner, of Galena, IL, Bonnye (Joe) Rollins, of Scales Mound, IL, Bryan Brickner, of Vandalia, MI, and Bette (Andy) Trimble, of Stoughton, WI; and his fourth daughter, Mary (Steve) Bader, of Scales Mound, IL; eight (8) grandchildren, Curt (Molly), Bruce (Staci), Jared (Bridget), and Jenne Deutsch, Amy (Greg) Emanuel, Kara (Lauri) Rollins, Justin (Ericka) Werner, and Kelsey Trimble; seven (7) great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Hammer, of Scales Mound, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, August and Ethel Brickner; two (2) sisters, Irma (Chuck) Ohms and Mary (Bill) Knuckey; his in-laws, Willis and Mildred Hammer; and a brother-in-law, Willis Hammer, Jr.

Bill's family wishes to extend a "special thank you" to the Scales Mound Fire Department and First Responders, the Galena Ambulance, the Elizabeth Ambulance, and Midwest Medical Center Emergency Department, for their quick response and kindness shown to our family.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com