William Lee Simons

There may have been people who loved baseball as much as Bill (“Lee”, to family) Simons, but no one loved it more. His happiest hours were spent in the bleachers, scorecard and little yellow pencil in hand, recording statistics. His favorite team, the Detroit Tigers, had been disappointing him lately but Bill was not the kind of person to abandon his team because they were losing. He just yelled more. He also loved watching the Southern Illinois Miners and Southern Illinois University Salukis. Sports were not Bill’s only interests. He was a talented musician and played in a band in high school and years beyond. They had some regional success playing the Southwestern Michigan Holiday Inn circuit where their contract required them to wear pastel leisure suits and “get the long, hippie hair out of your face!” Bill didn’t appreciate the command at the time but would have loved to hear it later in life. The band’s most notable success was opening for Ted Nugent, who presumably did not require leisure suits or short hair. Bill was an avid reader who loved history and biography most. He was interested in genealogy and had traced his family tree through forests of Simons, Meekers, Baldwins, Harpers, etc. He was also a talented writer and poet and was deservedly proud of his published works. His parents, Charles and Marilyn (Meeker) Simons were waiting at the gates of Heaven to greet him, followed by a long line of grandparents, uncles and aunts, including his Aunt Mildred who probably said, “What took you so long? I’ve been waiting on you,” and many cousins. Left behind to cherish countless memories are his wife, Karen (Weinert) Simons, and his stepchildren with whom he formed a mutual admiration society: Chris (Amber) Loughlin, Erin (Andrew Festin) Loughlin, and Matthew Loughlin. They will keep Bill’s memory alive for his grandchildren Maximus Loughlin and Zinnia Festin. His siblings, Barbara Simons, Steve (Patsy) Simons, and Patti (Jewel) Couling will grieve for their baby brother every day. His nephew Michael (Megan) Dart and nieces Jenni Rothenberger, Danielle Van Winkle, and Alicia Simons will miss their special UB. Also left to mourn him are many cousins, including Ron and Janet Legg. Additionally, he will be missed by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lynette and Ron Blasiman, along with his mother-in-law, Lila Kay Weinert and a man he greatly admired, his “always” father-in-law, Chuck Rumsey. A time of visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2nd at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson, with funeral services immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Celebrant Curt Goodwine will officiate, and there will be an opportunity for friends and family to share thoughts and memories of Bill during the service. He will be buried a family plot in Robinson New Cemetery. At his request, his resting place will be the one nearest the Marathon Refinery where he made countless friends and worked for many years, as did his father and grandfather. Memorial contributions may be made to either the “Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation” or to the “Oak Ridge United Methodist Church”, with envelopes available at the funeral home. Simply put, he was the best and we will miss him forever.