William J. Drennen Sr., 82, of Granville, died peacefully October 29, 2021 at St. Margaret’s Hospital with family at his side.
Funeral services will be 2:30 PM Tuesday at Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with Father Pat Demeuemeester followed by burial at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Granville. Visitation is in the funeral home on Tuesday from noon until time of service.
Bill was born July 24, 1939 to William Charles Drennen and Catherine (Vernardi) Drennen. He grew up on the four corners of 178 and 71 at Drennen’s Tap.
He graduated from La Salle-Peru High School and met Patricia McLaughlin, who was working across the street at her aunt and uncle’s gas and grocery store. They wed at Sacred Heart Church in Dimmick Township on Sept. 27, 1958 and a year later started their family.
Bill and Pat took over Drennen’s Tap while raising two children. Bill started working at Libbey-Owens-Ford Company where he retired after 42 years. During laid off times, Bill worked for the Starved Rock Scenic boat tours where he took tourists from the dam east up the river to the canyons and back. Bill loved that job as he was in his element on the river.
Bill and Pat moved from the tavern to Seneca then McNabb and finally to a family farm in Granville.
Bill and Pat learned to farm 140 acres, raise cattle and a couple horses. During this time, they were blessed with a third child.
Bill hunted every chance he could, starting with ducks and geese with his uncles at Drennen Duck Club. He even guided for a couple famous people in his younger years.
Later, the Drennen family bought the Drennen Memorial Duck Club where Bill could hunt ducks the rest of his life.
He harvested his share of ducks, deer, geese, pheasants, bear, sandhill cranes, and turkeys.
Bill and Pat bought land along a lake in Minnesota where they spent every spring through fall, serving as their happy place for 42 years. Pat passed away there in 2007.
Bill loved the hours spent with his children, grandchildren and close friends while hunting and fishing. He enjoyed helping others from beginners to experienced outdoorsmen harvest game or reel in the big fish, passing on all his knowledge, tips and tricks and taking those close to him to his secret fishing hotspots.
Many crappies, northern and walleye will be spared from Captain Bill and his crew.
Bill is survived by his son, Bill (Ann) Drennen Jr. and daughters Denise (Keith) Boggio and Deanna (Chris) Maggi, six grandchildren, six great grandchildren and his beloved golden retriever Penny.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, his brother, Charles Drennen, and his grandson, Joshua Boggio.
Pallbearers will be Keith Boggio Jr., Jake Drennen, Brennen Maggi, Dan Potthoff, Dave Slavin, Joe Gibbs and Kevin Chlum. Honorary pallbearers are Dylon Drennen and Lloyd Kalisiak.
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