William H. (Bill) Korte passed away on August 28, 2024, at the age of 90.  Bill was born on February 27, 1934 to Raymond and Rose Mougin Korte in Galena, IL.  He graduated from Warren High School in 1952.  He served in the US Army from 1956-1958.

On August 15, 1959, Bill married Colleen Rose McDermott at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Darlington, WI.  They lived in Warren, IL, for nine years and then moved to Stockton, IL where he was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church  They recently moved to Freeport, IL where he was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.  Bill enjoyed farming, gardening, cutting wood, picking grapes at their friends' winery, reading, and traveling with family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Colleen, and their three children: Katherine (George) Esser, Alma Center, WI, Tom (Jean) Korte, Freeport, IL, and Mary Korte, St. Louis, MO.  He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Nicole Esser, Lucas (Lindsey) Esser, Caitlin (Justin) Solsrud, Jacob Esser and Ayla Masurin, and Michael Ryan Decker. He is survived by ten great grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sisters Lenora Jackson of Santa Ana, CA, Rita (Darrell) Orr of Hartland, WI, and Cheryl (Richard) Holland of Flower Mound, TX, sister-in-law Linda Korte of Lena, IL and his brothers Robert (Sharon) Korte of South Beloit, IL, Donald Korte of Warren, IL, and Roland Korte of Warren, IL.   He is survived by a large family of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Donna (Mervin) Hintz, Deloris (Eldon) Ertmer, Shelby Jean (James) Young and brothers Richard Korte and Harold "Chris" (Carol) Korte.

The family would like to extend their thanks to the staff of FHN and Freeport Memorial Hospital and Liberty Village for their care and assistance.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Stockton at 11:00 a.m. with a visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established.