William E. "Bill" Drovesky, 79, of Rock Island, passed away Friday, Jan. 25, 2013, at Prairieview Care Center, Lewistown, Ill. Funeral service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Rafferty Funeral Home, 2111 1st St. A, Moline. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to March of Dimes. Bill was born Aug. 9, 1933, in Rock Island, the son of Theodore and Madeline Lundy Drovesky. He married Doris Snyder in September 1951 in Rock Island. He then married Mary "Bunnie" Rhoads on Oct. 29, 1982, in Rock Island. Bill retired from the former Builder Sales and Service, Moline. Survivors include his wife, Bunnie; daughter, Joan Maston, Rock Island; sons, Steven Drovesky, Coyne Center, Thomas Drovesky, Rock Island; stepdaughters, Shawn Marie (Larry) York, Louisville, Ky., and Janna Churchill, Columbus, Kan.; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sisters, Madge Hobert, Rock Island, and Claudine Hurlbutt, Rock Island. Condolences may be left at www.RaffertyFunerals.com.
Today is Sunday, May 19, the 139th day of 2013. There are 226 days left in the year. 1863 -- 150 years ago: The Rt. Rev. Harry I. Witherspoon, D.D. Bishop of Illinois, willpreach in Trinity (Episcopal) Church, in this city this evening. 1888 -- 125 years ago: At 1 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Mississippi River flooded itsbanks at Rock Island, destroying the warehouse of the Rock Island Lumber companyand damaging the Lumber Company and arsenal power plant. Total loss isestimated at $100.000. 1913 -- 100 years ago: Residents of South Rock Island township are circulating a petitionfavoring the annexation of that area to the city of Rock Island. 1938 -- 75 years ago: Mrs. Thomas Ackles, of Rock Island, has been elected president ofthe Playcrafters for the next season. She succeeds Warren Leonard. 1963 -- 50 years ago: Some 8,000 people filed through the gates of Rock Island Arsenal on Saturday to view a display of a part of the nation's armed strength. The occasion was theannual observance of Armed Forces Day. 1988 -- 25 years ago: Willis Kuschmann, of Moline, who already has won his laurels as oneof the most artistic men in the Quad-Cities area, has a new hobby. He is deeply involvedin miniature railroading. At the age of 88, when many other seniors are dozing in theirchairs or sitting before the television, Mr. Kuschmann is planning and working on hiscollection.