Bill Hollada

Bill Hollada, age 95 of Mattoon, IL departed his life on earth on October 11, 2024, at the Mattoon Rehabilitation and Health Care Center after a six-year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. A funeral service in his honor will be held at 1:00 PM, Thursday, October 17, 2024, at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938. Reverend Ron Dickinson will officiate. A committal service will immediately follow at Calvary Cemetery in Mattoon, IL. Military Rites will be conducted by Mattoon VFW Post 4325. The visitation will be held the same day from 11:00 AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Bill was born on June 22, 1929, in Benton, IL to the late Glynn and Elizabeth (Flannigan) Hollada He married Roberta Lisenby on October 13, 1957, in Mt. Vernon, IL; she survives and resides in Mattoon, IL. He is also survived by his daughter Gayla DeRosa of Ballwin, MO; brother-in-law, Gene Lisenby and wife Barbara of Columbia, MO; sister-in-law, Beverly Fullerton of Mt. Vernon, IL; aunt, Joy Meador of Carterville, IL; many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by one sister, Pat Hollada; son-in-law, King DeRosa, parents-in-law, Morris and Duvall Lisenby; brother-in-law, Rev. Merle Fullerton; and Nephew Glendell Fullerton. To satisfy his love for news, he was hired as a reporter for the Benton Evening News at the age of sixteen. After high school graduation in 1947, he became a student at SIU-Carbondale, IL and graduated in 1951 with a B.S. in English. After graduation, Bill joined the Army during the Korean War. Upon completion of his two-year service duty, he immediately returned to SIU Carbondale in September of 1953 and earned his Master’s Degree in History. With his love for sports and reporting, he became SIU’s Sports Information Director from 1955-1958. After his marriage to Roberta, he entered the teaching profession with his wife. They taught together at the same schools, East Lynn High School in East Lynn, IL, Centralia High School in Centralia, IL, and Lake Land College in Mattoon, IL for a total of twenty-five years. During his teaching years, he also worked during the summers toward a PhD in Communications which he achieved in 1974. In addition, Bill has taught at Benton and Mt. Vernon High Schools, Centralia Community College and Eastern IL University. Bill retired from Lake Land College in May 1986, but quickly decided the definition of retirement did not fit his desire to be active and productive. Therefore, he decided to become a part-time substitute teacher, as well as reporter for the Mattoon JG-TC and Champaign newspapers. With his enthusiasm for life, he also auditioned to be an extra for the 1994 filming of “The Babe” baseball movie in Danville, IL and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. About halfway through the movie, Bill and another actor occupied the big screen in a scene for a minute or so, if you don’t blink. Joining the staff at Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL in 1968 was the reason for the relocation to Mattoon, and Bill was forever proud of the move. With his dedication for Mattoon, he became involved with many local service organizations: YMCA Rocking Chair League Softball Coach and Player on the league until age 85, President of Exchange Club, Mideastern IL Labor Council, High School Booster Club, President of the Babe Ruth League, UAW Local 916, Precinct Committee, and United States Census Taker for Coles County. In addition, he was named to the Lake Land College Wall of Fame as well as the SIU (Carbondale) Daily Egyptian Wall of Fame. Travel was also one of his major goals in life and he did accomplish that as well—all fifty states and nineteen countries. He was able to reach many goals in his lifetime because of his love for life, education, enthusiasm, curiosity, and a desire to make a difference and inspire others. Bill even taught a unique clownology curriculum at LLC and performed at various venues as “Juggler Joe”. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to American Parkinson Disease Association, PO Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306 Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory with the family.

Tributes

Bill Hollada

June 22, 1929 - October 11, 2024