William J. Molenar

William John “Bill” Molenar, 56, died Sept. 22, 2019, in Hot Springs, Ark., after a major stroke and a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Blue Island, Ill., and raised near Orland Park, Ill., in rural Lockport, where he attended Homer Township schools before his family moved to Hot Springs. There, he attended Lake Hamilton schools, then a vocational-technical school. Carpentry became his passion and he developed a reputation as superior at the trade, which he practiced most of his life in both the Chicago and Hot Springs areas.

Bill is survived by his two sons, William E. “Billy” Molenar, of Pemberton, N.J., and Brandon M. Molenar, of Chicago; siblings, Daniel E. Rock, of Orland Park, Ill., Mary L. Parente, of Palos Heights, Ill., and Joseph K. Molenar, of Orland Park, Ill.; aunt, Jo Anne Davis, of Chicago and Hot Springs; uncles, Jack Molenar, of Palos Park, Ill., and Glenn C. Molenar, of South Carolina; former spouse, Brigid O’Keefe, of Lake Station, Ind.; good friends, Linda Yaeger, of Hot Springs, and Brandon Wilson, of Prescott, Ark.; and numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia L. (nee Rock) Molenar Black, of Hot Springs, and Orland Park; father, Kenneth J. Molenar, of Oak Forest, Ill.; aunt, Kathleen M. (nee Rock) Hosman, of New Lenox, Ill.; uncle, Michael W. Rock, of Marina, Calif.; maternal grandparents, Emma (nee Kopp) Rock and William E. Rock, of Chicago and Hot Springs; and paternal grandmother, Beatrice Molenar, of Chicago.

A memorial service will be held in Chicago. The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to Arkansas Hospice, whose team provided comforting end-of-life care to Bill in Hot Springs, or to Prescott Manor Nursing Home in Prescott, Ark.

Cremation arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, Jacksonville, Ark., 501-982-3400; http://www. anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.