William John Pirages

William John Pirages, 89, of Rockford died at 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, March 20, 2012, after a brief illness.nbsp; Born September 17, 1922 in Rockford.nbsp;nbsp; He was the son of Joseph H. Pirages, who was an immigrant from Lithuania, and Paulina J. (Zubas) Pirages.nbsp;nbsp; He attended Whig Hill School and Lincoln Junior High School and graduated from Rockford High School, as a member of its final graduating class, in 1940.nbsp; nbsp;

After high school, he worked for Woodward Governor Company in Rockford.nbsp; Following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, he attempted to enlist in the Marines but was denied enlistment without parental permission.nbsp;nbsp; That parental permission was finally given to him in April 1942, and he enlisted and enrolled in the Naval Aviation Program, ultimately receiving his wings and commission as a 2 nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in July 1943.nbsp; During World War II he served as a Marine fighter pilot in the South Pacific, flying 99 missions while piloting an F4U Corsair while based in Bougainville, New Guinea, Samar Island and the Philippines.nbsp; He was released to inactive duty in December 1945.

Following World War II he worked for Woodward Governor Co. and Ingersoll Milling Machine Co.nbsp;nbsp; He also attended the University of Wisconsin and ultimately entered the management training program of the Standard Oil Company.nbsp;nbsp; He owned and operated Bills Standard Service at locations in Loves Park and, finally, at 2922 No. Main Street in Rockford, for approximately 30 years, closing that business in 1977.nbsp; He then worked for the J.L. Clark Manufacturing Company (Clarcor) from which he retired in 1988.nbsp; nbsp;Following his retirement, he worked as a starter and ranger for the Rockford Park District at Sinnissippi Golf Course from 1988 until 2009.

He married Pauline F. Ertmer at St. Patrick Church in Rockford on September 13, 1947 and they were married for more than 59 years prior to her death on December 5, 2006.nbsp; He was a devout Catholic and a 3 rd Degree member of Knights of Columbus Muldoon Council 470, and a 4 th Degree member of the General Assembly 190 for which he once served as Faithful Navigator.nbsp;nbsp; He was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and a former member of the Cathedral of St. Peter, where he attended while he was raising his family.nbsp; In 2000, the Ethnic Heritage Museum named him Lithuanian Father of the Year.nbsp;nbsp; He was also a member of the YMCAs Retired Mens Club, the Rockford NuVoice Club, VFW Post No.9759 and the Rockford World War II Flyers. Also previously volunteered for the Rockford Literacy Council.

Survivors include his six children, Kathleen A. (Tom) Haney of Oak Park, Jeanne M. (Fred) Kirsch of Golden Valley, MN., Stephen L. (Karyn) Pirages of Belvidere, James R. (Lucy) Pirages of Rockford, Michael J. Pirages of Chicago, and Margaret M. (Michael) Lenox of Rockford.nbsp; Also surviving are his eleven grandchildren, Alex Haney; Michael and Jon Kirsch; Julie (Curt) Kidder; Sarah Miller; David, Maryjo, Jay and Robert Pirages; and Drew and Erika Lenox, and two greatgranddaughters, Karli and Alayna Kidder.nbsp; Survived also by his brother and sisterinlaw, Joe and Ollie Pirages of Cedar Falls, IA., by his sisterinlaw, Alice Ertmer of Denver, CO.; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.nbsp; In addition to his wife and parents, predeceased by his sister, Della M. Burns, in October 2011.nbsp;

Visitation on Friday, March 23, 2012 from 58 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 South Mulford Road, Rockford, with a rosary recited at 8 p.m. nbsp;Funeral Mass at Holy Family Catholic Church, Highcrest and North Alpine Roads, on Saturday at 1 p.m.with Rev. William R. Wentink officiating. Visitation also from noon until 12:45 p.m. preceding the Mass at the Church.nbsp;nbsp; Entombment in the Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.nbsp; In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the William J. Pirages Memorial Fund, c/o Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, 946 No. 2 nd Street, Rockford, IL. 61107.nbsp;nbsp; The family thanks the men and women of the Rockford Park District for their many kindnesses to our Dad while he was working at Sinnissippi Golf Course during his retirement years and also thanks Drs. Trautmann and Thappa and the SwedishAmerican CCU staff for their care and compassion during Dads final illness.