Published on March 5, 2026 11:16 am
Last Updated on March 5, 2026 11:16 am
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William F. Goddard (Bill, Willie) 79, of Mason, IL, passed away on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.
William was born on April 10, 1946, in Ellensburg, WA, the son of William and Marie (Nelson) Goddard. A lot of his childhood was spent at his Grandpa Nelson’s farm in Mason, IL. The farm was always a special place that led to a lifetime of stories and a strong inclination to always come back. Bill served in the United States Navy during Vietnam from 1965 to 1971 aboard the USS Constellation aircraft carrier on the Air Crew for Safety and Survival. Bill graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School. He attended DuPage College (AS) and Albright College for a B.A. in Economics. He worked for American National Can (Rexam) and retired at the young age of 55. Retirement to Bill meant farming, playing with his horses and dogs, and of course, the countless hot rods & motorcycles. Bill had a great sense of humor and was always positive and happy-go-lucky. He lived his life to the fullest and got to truly enjoy his life. He loved to go out dancing or just shake a leg across the house. His happiness in life was abundant, and you couldn’t help but love the man. Bill loved spending time with his family and socializing with friends. No matter who he met, they were never a stranger for long. Bill loved adventures with his family. The Boundary Waters Wilderness Area was always a special place for adventures. From 2017 to 2024, Bill, David, Josh, and Delaney completed 8 canoe/backpack trips totaling over 400 miles.
Bill is survived by his brother, Ron (Cindy) Goddard of Mason, IL; sons, David Goddard of Mason, IL and Josh Goddard of Wolcott, IN; and granddaughters, Delaney and Alexis Goddard, both of Charleston, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, IL. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, IL. Burial will be at the Leith Cemetery in Mason, IL with military rites.