George “Bill” William Ovens

George William “Bill” Ovens, 88, of Rock Island, died April 6, 2024.

Visitation will be Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Avenue, Rock Island. A prayer service will follow at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home. Entombment will take place at Calvary Mausoleum in Rock Island.

Bill was born May 28, 1935, in Davenport to Carmelita (Bettcher) Ovens and George Ovens.

He worked at the Servus Rubber Co. in Rock Island from 1953-1966. Bill retired from John Deere Plow Works in Moline, where he worked 1966-97 as a senior industrial engineer/assembly planning engineer. He served in the Illinois National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve from 1957 to 1963.

An avid golfer, Bill tied a course record at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island in 1962, shooting a 62. He also set a course record at Indian Bluff Golf Course in Milan in 1969, shooting a 63.  

Bill married Mary Snider in 1956. They lived in Rock Island for the entirety of their 67-year marriage. They also were decades-long parishioners at Saint Pius X Church in Rock Island.

In addition to his wife, survivors include daughter Lisa (Bill) Cieslewicz of Milford, Ohio; sons Brent (Marilyn) Ovens of Milan and Marty (Ginger) Ovens of Traverse City, Mich.; grandchildren, Kimberly (Daniel) Cook of Chicago; Eric (Angela) Cieslewicz of Franklin, Tenn.; Charlie (Alexa) Ovens of Ewa Beach, Hawaii; and Claire Ovens of Traverse City; great-grandchildren Elijah Cook, Ainsley Cook, Bridget Cieslewicz and Audrey Cieslewicz; brother Richard (Joyce) Ovens of Brighton, Colo.; sister Carol Masschelin of South Riding, Va.; as well as nieces and nephews.  

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Marsha.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Birdies For Charity.

Online condolences, memories and expressions of sympathy may be left at www.wheelanpressly.com.

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