WILLIAM J. 'BILL' STEIL, 77 DODGEVILLE, Wis. - William J. "Bill" Steil, 77 of Dodgeville, Wis., formerly of East Dubuque, passed away at 1:15 p.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at the home of his daughter, Laura Diemer, of Freeport, IL, surrounded by his loving family. Bill was born on March 2, 1936, in Chicago, Ill., the son of Walter F. and Ethel I. (Frommelt) Steil. He married Helen M. Cullen on June 17, 1961, at St. Mary's Church in East Dubuque. She preceded him in death on September 30, 2002. He was a graduate of Dubuque Senior High School, Class of 1954, and a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during the Korean Conflict. Bill served the City of Dubuque as a police officer. He then was employed as a metallurgist and welding supervisor at John Deere Dubuque Works until his retirement. He and Helen formerly lived in Potosi, Wis., from 1970 - 1988. He and Helen were the co-owners of the former Country Christmas Tree Farm in rural East Dubuque. He was a member of St. Mary's Parish and its Holy Name Society, and the Illinois Christmas Tree Growers Association. Bill was also a former member of the DunleithTownship Park Board. Surviving are five children, Julie (Addison-Fulton) (Joe) Witmer of Blue Mounds, Wis.; Joseph (Tia) Steil of Freeport; James (Patty) Steil of Dodgeville, Wis.; Laura (Rick) Diemer of Freeport; and Andrew (Lori) Steil of Galena, Ill.; 17 grandchildren, Lindsey Addison, Lauren (Travis) Mayne, Lia (Brett) Brodbeck, Jeffrey & Jacob Fulton, Kayla, Kasey, Korey & Kamryn Steil, Alexander, Thomas and Olivia Steil, Noah, Lucas, Abraham, Simon & Jonah Diemer; three great-grandchildren, Cullen & Ava Brodbeck and Addison Mayne; two sisters, Joanne Schwarzhoff of Davenport, Iowa, and Patricia Cullen-Spensley of Dubuque; in-laws, Emmie Cullen of Reno, Nevada, Lois (Tom) Hendricks of Arcadia, Florida, Jerry (Pat) Cullen of Platteville, Wis., Mary Ann (Jim) Reilly of Shullsburg, Wis., Geraldine "Jerry" Cullen of Darlington, Wis., William (Betty) Cullen of The Villages, Fla., Peg (Clete) Dalsing, and Bernell Busch both of Dubuque; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters, LaVonne Perrott, Mary Jane Busch, and Peg Saunders; and daughter-in-law, Cyndi Steil. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to FHN Hospice, Freeport, Illinois. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, August 15, at St. Mary's Church in East Dubuque, with Msgr. P. William McDonnell and the Rev. Dean Smith concelebrating. Burial will be in the East Dubuque Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by members of the Dubuque Marine Corps League. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday and after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Miller Funeral Home in East Dubuque, where the parish rosary will be recited at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday.