William Charles Diller

William “Bill” C. Diller, 77, of Princeton died at 6:20 a.m. on Monday, August 22, 2011, at Perry Memorial Hospital. He was born February 12, 1934, in Princeton to Charles and Celia Diller, Jr. He married Carolyn Huffaker on August 14, 1955. She survives. Bill attended Princeton High School graduating in 1952. During his high school career, he received 12 varsity letters lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track. He graduated from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, in 1956 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the US Air Force and served as a personnel and executive officer at Opheim Air Force Station, Montana. Diller was personnel manager at Harper-Wyman, owned Diller Wholesale Fishing Tackle and Peterson’s Clothing Store. He and his wife own the Covered Bridge Fudge Shop at the Princeton Depot. He has been a member of the Bureau County Fair Board for the past 30 years serving as Treasurer, Concession Manager, and currently as a Vice President. A great deal of expansion took place during his time on the County Fair Board including the addition of two exhibit halls, a new hog/sheep barn, the concrete wall around the track, the box seating area in the grandstand and a new office. His lifelong love for the Bureau County Fair began at a young age when he helped take the International Harvester machinery to the fairgrounds. During the past few years, he had visited 97 of the 104 fairs throughout Illinois. In 1999, after having served as Secretary/Treasurer, he was elected Vice-President of the Northern Zone of the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs (IAAF). He then served as President of that organization. He became involved with the IAAF board in 2004 serving in various capacities including vice president for two years. In 2008 he began a two year term as President (2008-2009) of the IAAF board during which time he presided over the 100th Anniversary of that organization. As president, he visited 45 county fairs. He was currently serving on the IAAF Board as Past President and attended his last meeting of the organization on August 12, 2011. In addition to his love of county fairs, Bill was very active in his community. He served on the Princeton Elementary School Board for 12 years including a term as President and for 18 years as a Princeton Park District Commissioner during which the Bureau County Metro Center, the current Alexander Pool, and Zearing Park were built. He was one of the re-organizers of the Princeton Little League program and was on the Princeton Youth Baseball Board for 15 years serving as Secretary/Treasurer. During this time, he coached Little League, Pony League and American Legion baseball teams, at times coaching a team in each league in the same year. His coaching record was 121 wins and 57 losses. He is a fourth generation member of the Evangelical Covenant Church where he served on the Trustees Board and was Church Treasurer. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader for more than 10 years including serving as chairman of the Eagle Promotion Board. He had been a member of the Princeton Jaycees, the Lions Club, Rotary Club and was a co-founder of Princeton’s Beef Days. He taught Junior Achievement to first graders in the Princeton School system in 2008 and 2009. He was currently serving as Secretary of the Bureau County Genealogy Society and is a member of the Princeton Moose Lodge. Also surviving are three children, Thomas (Julie Bogott) Diller of Greenville, SC, Daniel (Kathy Lester) Diller of Falls Church, VA, and Linnea (Gary) Campbell of Princeton; eight grandchildren, Matthew Diller, Shanna Diller, Brooke (Dan) Frantz, Betsy Diller, Mitchell Campbell, Peter Campbell, Tony Diller, and Kate Diller; two brothers, Richard (Emily) Diller of Rockford and Robert (Shar) Diller of Naperville; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws, Clifford and Jean Huffaker. Visitation will be Friday, August 26th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Norberg Memorial Home. The funeral will be on Saturday, August 27th at 11:00 a.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Princeton. Rev. Derek Boggs, Rev. Bernard Windmiller, and Rev. John Weborg will be officiating. Interment will be at Oakland Cemetery in Princeton. Memorials may be directed to the Evangelical Covenant Church, the Bureau County Fair, Perry Memorial Foundation, or the donor’s choice.

William Charles Diller

February 12, 1934 - August 22, 2011