William “Bill” Burl Willman, 84, of Pawnee, died on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Springfield Memorial Hospital.
No services are planned. Burial will be at Horse Creek Cemetery in Pawnee. Curry Funeral Home in Pawnee is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Willman was born on June 29, 1941, the son of Burl A. and Audrey Ferguson Willman. He married Betty L. Scott on June 17, 1965, in Carlinvile. They shared more than 40 years together before her passing in 2009.
He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1959 and attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale. He proudly served in the U.S. Army in an armored unit and went on to work for Hulvey Excavating for more than 30 years.
In Mr. Willman’s younger years, he enjoyed playing recreational softball with friends and throwing horseshoes. He was also a loyal fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, the University of Illinois Fighting Illini and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Each spring, he looked forward to mushroom hunting, heading out with his prized mushroom hunting sticks, which he always kept in the backseat of his truck.
Among his grandchildren’s favorite memories are attending a Pittsburgh Steelers game with Mitchell and spending days at Fairmount Park horse racing with Brittani.
Mr. Willman is survived by his daughter, Kim (Chris Pearson) Jackson of Pawnee; grandchildren, Brittani (Jeff) Allen and Mitchell (Candice) Jackson; great-grandchildren, Eleanor Jackson and Louie Allen; brother, Kenneth “Dutch” (Julie) Willman of Donnellson; and sister, Carole (Paul “Bear”) Barricklow of Hillsboro.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Betty; son, Brent, in 2025; sister, Shelby Motycka; and brother, Roger Willman.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Pawnee Food Pantry, P.O. Box 304 in Pawnee.
Condolences may be made to www.curryfh.com.
