- Date Of Birth: November 7, 1926
- Date Of Death: August 14, 2014
- State: Illinois
William L. “Buck” Schweigert, 87, formerly of Peru died August 14, 2014 at the Illinois Veteran’s Home in LaSalle, Illinois where he had resided since December of 2011. He fought a long, courageous battle with Dementia/Alzheimer’s Disease.
Mr. Schweigert was born November 7, 1926 at Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru, Illinois, to Fred and Anna (Lamps) Schweigert. He married Virginia “Gina” Rabe on May 27, 1949 in St. John’s Lutheran Church in Peru. She preceded him in death on December 28, 1979. Mr. Schweigert was a 1944 graduate of La Salle-Peru Township High School and attended Illinois Valley Community College. He completed the American Bankers Installment Credit School at the University of Chicago. He was employed at La Salle National Bank, La Salle, Illinois, from 1957 to 1993. He held numerous positions with the bank over the years including Assistant Cashier, Loan Officer, and Senior Vice President & Loan Manager, which is the position he held when he retired in 1993.
Shortly after retiring, he began working for the bank part time in Business Development and continued to do so until fully retiring in February of 2003. Bill got a great deal of satisfaction from both his job and the close relationships he formed over the years with his many co-workers and clients. Prior to working at the bank, he was employed at M & H Zinc Co. as a Payroll Clerk. Mr. Schweigert was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Philippines and Korea with the U.S. Army’s 53rd Field Artillery. He was a former Peru Republican Precinct Committeeman. He was a life member of the Peru Veterans of Foreign Wars (V.F.W.). He was a former member of the LaSalle Lions Club and served as the club’s Treasurer for many years. He was a founder and member of the Better Fishing Association of Northern Illinois (B.F.A.) and had served as the organization’s first President.
He served as the Governor’s personal appointee, under two different governors, on the Illinois-Mississippi-Sinnisippi Canal Commission. He was an active member of the Starved Rock Chapter of Ducks Unlimited and served on the Board for many years. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council for two terms and was also on the Finance Committee for many years. Mr. Schweigert was a former member of New Windsor Sportsman’s Club in Victoria, Illinois. He was a former member of the club’s Board of Directors and also served on the Fish & Weed Committee. He was an avid outdoors man and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a sports fan and especially liked cheering on his favorite team – the Chicago Bears. He also enjoyed travel, dining out, playing cards and enjoying time with his friends and family. He is survived by his daughter, Sue (John) Kosciewicz of Spring Valley, a Sister-In-Law, Mary Schweigert of Spring Valley & formerly of Peru, two nephews, Jim (Sharon) Schweigert of Singapore and Tom Schweigert of Madison, WI.
He is also survived by many friends including his closest friend, Vince Stalsis of Peru and cherished friends Jerry Bichl and Bill Vlastnik. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a brother, Melvin Schweigert, a nephew, Mike Schweigert, and a special friend, Rosemary Liebe. Memorials may be directed to the New Windsor Sportsman’s Club or St. John’s Lutheran Church. Pallbearers will be: Tom Atkinson, Jerry Bichl, Ralph Burkart, Chuck Decker, Ray Rue, Tom Schweigert, Vince Stalsis and Bill Vlastnik.
