William H. Nesseler

William “Bill” Nesseler, 84, of Rock Island and most recently of Park Vista, East Moline, left this world on Tuesday afternoon after a life filled with love – true love with his wife of 64 years, true love of sports and especially baseball, true love of a life filled with wonderful family and friends.

Visitation will from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Memorials made be made out to the family.

Mr. Nesseler was born Feb. 22, 1932, the son of Henry and Doris Johnson Nesseler. He graduated from Rock Island High School and attended Brown's Business College and left there to enter the National Guard. He was employed by Modern Woodmen of America's Home Office in Rock Island for 48 years. He worked at all five of MWA's buildings.

He married Jacqueline Rose Boetje on Aug. 3, 1952. Their love story started at the Douglas Park ball diamond in Rock Island. She caught his eye, she climbed the fence and sat next to him, he grabbed her wrist and asked for the time, and the rest is over six decades of storybook love.

Sports filled Mr. Nesseler’s life. He was a baseball and softball umpire and volleyball referee for over 40 years. He also coached in the Rock Island Junior Baseball program and Rock Island Girls Slowpitch program. He also was a Little League coach for Downings Dairy and a basketball coach for Immanuel Lutheran School. At age 79, he became the oldest player to take an at-bat in Veto League Baseball on Father's Day.

He is survived by his wife; sons Mike (Debbie) Nesseler and Marc (Kathleen) Nesseler; daughters Molly (Ray) DeMink, Mindy (Kristi Mindrup) Diaz, and Mary (Robert) Israelite; grandchildren Kimberlee Nesseler, Kristie (Ben) Cappaert and Katie (Alex) Miller; Courtney (Joe) Ende, Kelsey (Eston) Frazelle and Brett Nesseler; Nicole, Danielle and Taylor Hilmo; Christian and Nick DeMink; Alex and Alina Diaz; and Sam Israelite.; great-grandchildren Ashya, Masen and Timia Ende; Madeline and Tyler Cappaert, and Aiden and Keaton Frazelle; brothers Jim and Steve Nesseler; and a sister, Doris Ryan.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Al Nesseler, sister-in-law Betty Nesseler, and grandchildren Olivia Diaz and Willie Ray DeMink.

 Online condolences can be left at www.wheelanpressly.com.

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