Fourth-generation Illinois fruit grower William ‘Bill’ Francis Flamm dies
A community says goodbye to the patriarch of a longtime southern Illinois orchard.
Bill Flamm a member of he fourth generation of the Flamm Orchards family, died at his childhood home, in Cobden, Illinois, on July 6.
Flamm was born in 1937 in Cobden and was the last surviving member of his generation and an active member of the orchard throughout his life.
His long-time friend Wayne Sirles of Rendleman Orchards says he will be missed. “He was justa really good person and what I’d really like to say is that he actually has made a difference in a lot of peoples lives and has actually made the world a better place because he was part of it.”
Bill Flamm was 83.
According to his obituary, William “Bill” Francis Flamm, 83, died peacefully in his childhood home surrounded by his family on July 6, 2020.
Bill was the son of Paul and Frances Flamm. He was born Feb. 14, 1937, in Cobden.
He married Nancy Clutts on April 19, 1958.
They had six children, David Flamm, Susan (Richard) Lewis of Cary, North Carolina, Brenda (David) Augustine of Naperville, Patty (Kenny) Flamm of Cobden, Karen Kiefer of Cobden, and Rita (Clay) Mitchell of Cobden. He was proud and fond of his many nieces and nephews and their families. Bill was a loving “PAPA” to his grandchildren, Sarah Carr, Emily Richbourg, Leslie Pepple, Adam Augustine, Forrest Blakley, Brianne Mann, Catherine Augustine, Mary Ann Blakley, Rebecca and Heidi Mitchell. Bill was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren. He loved and cherished every moment with them.
He was preceded in death by his son, David; parents, Paul and Frances; brothers, Leonard “Slim” and Donald; sisters, Jean and Mary Ann; son-in-law, Dwight D. Kiefer.
Bill grew up on the family farm with his late brother Leonard “Slim” and his late cousin Ed. As the fourth generation, they spent their lives building Flamm Orchards into the legacy it is today.
Bill was an avid outdoorsman. When he wasn’t with his family or working on the farm, he was at his second home in Gunnison, Colorado, where he enjoyed fishing and hunting alongside his many friends.
Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9, in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cobden, with Father Uriel Salamanca officiating. Interment will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today, July 8, at Rendleman and Hileman Funeral Home in Cobden.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Union County Farm Bureau Scholarship Program.
Everyone attending will be required to wear a face covering and observe social distancing guidelines.