William R.F. Hartje
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[William R. F. "Bud" Hartje, 86, of Du Quoin, passed away at 9:15 p.m., Friday, April 27, 2012 at his residence.
He was a retired electrician working for 46 years for Cunningham Electric and several other companies in Southern Illinois. He worked on several large jobs in Southern Illinois at SIU, Carbondale Mall and at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale. He had also worked for Perry Metals for five years. William was a member of the Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin and served on several committees at the church. He was a member of the IBEW Local 702 in which he became a member November 29, 1947. He served on the apprenticeship board for IBEW for several years. He was also a member of the Chester VFW Post 3553. He attended the St. John's Lutheran Grade School and had also attended the Chester High School. He played drums in the Chester Municipal Band and the Army Band. William proudly served his country as a TEC-5 in the Allied Airborne Paratroopers in the U.S. Army during WW II.
He was born March 9, 1926 at Chester, Ill. the son of Louis C. and Esther (Herberts) Hartje.
William married Ruby G. Dietrich on Oct. 25, 1947 at Chester, Ill. and she survives.
He is survived by his wife of Du Quoin, daughter- Barbara Ann Croessman and husband John of Du Quoin, three grandchildren- Angela Boyett of Du Quoin, Alex Croessman of Du Quoin and Andrew Croessman of Du Quoin, three great grandchildren- Sydney, Emily and Jacob, sister- Loretta Feldt and husband Nolan of Belleville, brother- Louis Hartje, Jr. of Jackson, Mo., other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister- Melba Lippert, brother- Walter Hartje and an infant grandson.
Funeral services were at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 2, 2012 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Du Quoin with Rev. Mark Buetow officiating.
Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday at the Searby Funeral Home in Du Quoin and from 11:00 a.m. until time of service at the church on Wednesday.
Burial was in the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery in Chester.
Friends may make memorials to the Bethel Lutheran Church Drive Way Fund, St. John's Lutheran Cemetery or to the donors choice and will be accepted at the funeral home.
Military graveside rites were conducted by the Chester VFW Post 3553.
For additional information or to sign the memorial guest register, please visit www.searbyfuneralhomes.com.