William Rodney Bill Collard

William Rodney Bill Collard, 87, of Carmi, Illinois, died Monday, February 13, 2017, at Hamilton Memorial Hospital in McLeansboro, Illinois. He was born November 6, 1929, in Carmi, the son of Verner T. and Nellie (Brockett) Collard.

Bill attended the Presbyterian Church in Carmi and he was a Korean War Air Force Veteran. He was very patriotic, and an active member of the American Legion. Bill was very athletic in high school and excelled in football, basketball and track. He is a member of the Carmi Township High School Sports Hall of Fame. During his work career he was a sheet metal worker and worked in the oilfields of the Illinois Oil Basin. He was also owner/trainer of standard bred race horses.

Survivors include son Rodney (Tamara) Collard of Murphysboro, Illinois; daughter Jane (Bob) Sykes of Carmi; grandchildren Lindsey (Adam) Moore, Morgan (John) Rathjen, Ryan (Kerri) Sykes, Lesley (Nick) Knight; great grandchildren Deacon Rathjen, Gavin Sykes, Adison Sykes, Patrick Knight, Gehrig Knight, Grace Knight, Abbey Knight, Clara Knight.

He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters Talitha Stills and Martha Hancock; brothers Tom Tommy Collard and Jack Collard.

Visitation and funeral are Saturday, February 18, 2017, at Cook Funeral Chapel in Carmi. Visitation is at 11 am and continues until funeral time at 1 pm. Burial with military rites is in Enfield Cemetery in Enfield, Illinois.

Visitation: Cook Funeral Chapel Carmi, February 18, 2017 - 11am

Service: Cook Funeral Chapel Carmi, February 18, 2017 - 1pm