William A. "Bill" Mosenfelder http://www.wheelanpressly.com/obit-display.jhtml?DB=update/obits/db...

William A. "Bill" Mosenfelder , - October 20, 2008 Moline,

Visitation: 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, Rock Island, Ill. Funeral Service: Noon Thursday, October 23, 2008 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island, Ill. Interment: Thursday, October 23, 2008 at National Cemetery, Rock Island, Ill.

William A. "Bill" Mosenfelder, 82, of Moline, died Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, at his home. Funeral services are noon on Thursday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island. Burial is at National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented by Moline American Legion Post 246. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Additional visitation is an hour prior to the service on Thursday. Memorials may be made to Trinity Foundation/Pathway Hospice or to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation. Bill was born on Aug. 5, 1926, in Davenport, the son of Arthur and Rose McEvoy Mosenfelder. He married Roseann Larson on Feb. 22, 1947, in Galesburg. Bill was married to Sharon Larson Richeson on Dec. 25, 1990, at his Rock River home, by Judge James Teros. He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1944 and following his return from the war, graduated from Knox College in 1951. Bill was a well-known prominent businessman in Rock Island. After college, he worked with his father and uncles at Mosenfelder & Sons, Rock Island. He later purchased the business with his cousin, Jack, in 1956, and it became Mosenfelder's, Inc. Bill was a visionary in the concept and development of shopping centers. He initially began the expansion of Mosenfelder's, Inc. with the King Plaza Store in Moline. In 1966, with his then-partner, Ivor McGuire, he opened William Mosenfelder & Sons in the former Younkers building in downtown Rock Island. Bill later opened other retail operations, Beau Rebel in Davenport, NorthPark Mall and Carl Sandburg Mall, Galesburg. Selling his business interest in 1978, he enjoyed time for some of his favorite hobbies, downhill skiing, golfing, fishing and hunting. In 1980, he started another career when he joined the Quad City Downs as marketing director. Bill was named vice president and general manager of the Downs in November of 1990. He retired to his Rock River home in November 1992, where he enjoyed the natural beauty of the river area he loved so much. Bill was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran, having served on the USS John A. Bole in the Pacific Theater. He was a member of the Delta Theta Sigma Nu fraternity, and served on the board of directors and steering committee of the Community Modernization Committee for the City of Rock Island. He was president of the advisory council of the Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Rock Island Downtown Retail Association, board member of the Illinois Merchants Association, and member of the Rock Island Rotary Club, who named him Rotarian of the Year. Bill was a member of River Realty; this group was instrumental in developing the Rock Island downtown and attracted the Sheraton Hotel, as well as

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other businesses. He was a member of the Rock Island City Council for two terms starting in 1961, and was a member of the first city council under the mayor/city manager form of government; he also served as mayor pro-tem. Bill had a strong belief in the youth of the community and sponsored and coached a little league baseball team, several bowling teams, and a softball and basketball team. He refereed area basketball games in the Cornbelt League. He was a longtime member of the Rock Island/Milan Booster Club and also supported many other youth activities in the community. Bill was a longtime member of the Golf Club and life member of First United Methodist Church, Rock Island. Survivors include his wife, Sharon; children (and spouses), Tom (Debbie) Mosenfelder, Rock Island, Richard (Geri) Mosenfelder, Rock Island, Jerry (Renee) Mosenfelder, Rock Island, Danny Mosenfelder, Scottsdale, Ariz., Jeffrey (Pam) Mosenfelder, Rock Island, Mindy (Greg) Bateman, Rock Island, Leanne Mosenfelder, Davenport, Steven Mosenfelder, Mesa, Ariz., Sara (Steve) Story, Victor, Idaho, Brent Richeson, Portland, Ore., and Brian (Amanda) Richeson, Ferndale, Wash.; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and former wife, Roseann.

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