Colonel William R "Bill" Logel Jr passed away on October 4, 2023. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri on October 27, 1943, to William R and Miriam Adele nee Offer Logel Sr. He grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, graduating from Holy Redeemer Grade School in 1957, and Webster Groves High School in 1961. He attended Missouri School Mines and Metallurgy, now Missouri University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Rolla, Missouri. While in college he worked, 1963-1966, as a Test Engineer for NASA- Marshall on The Saturn Lunar Program.

While in Huntsville, Alabama, he met and married Mary Joyce Taylor on August 27, 1966. They moved back to Rolla, Missouri to complete a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master's Degree in Engineering Administration. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate and Commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the US Army Combat Engineers.

He has two daughters, Jenny born in July,1968 and Sandy born in December,1972. One of his proudest moments centered on his and Joyce's decision to raise their son/grandson Jason Christopher Logel, born in 1986.

He began working for Caterpillar, Inc in 1970 as a shop foreman in Peoria, Illinois. He worked for Caterpillar for 36 years in various facets of the manufacturing processes. He was a Superintendent of Factory G, Materials and Requirements Mgr, Inspection Mgr, Logistics Planning Mgr in PWAF, 6 Sigma Deployment Champion in Aurora, and Quality Department Mgr. Bill led many of the change initiatives during his career and retired in May 2006 as the Operational Excellence Department Head in the Wheel Loaders and Excavators Division. While working for Caterpillar, he travelled often to Europe, Brazil and Japan. He was a Certified Quality Mgr and a Certified Management Consultant. He was a Lead Examiner for the Lincoln Foundation for Performance Excellence.

The majority of his Army career was spent in the Army Reserve. As the Reserve picked up more real- world responsibilities in the 1980's, Bill led a team of engineers and computer experts of the 416th Engineer Command in support of two Joint Command Logistics Staffs. This assignment led to extensive travel in the Orient, Southwest Asia and North Africa. It required frequent weekend travel to MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa and planning meetings at USMC Camp Smith in Honolulu. He commanded the 961st Engineer Battalion Combat Heavy (USAR) headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1988 to 1990 when he was promoted to Colonel. This led to an assignment as Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel in the Headquarters of the 416th Theater Engineer Command in Chicago. The Command Headquarters was activated for Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the fall of 1990 and deployed to Saudi Arabia. There the Command had responsibility for about 17,000 soldiers spread across numerous units in numerous locations. Colonel Logel retired in August 1993, adding the De Fluery Medal of the Engineer Regiment to a highly decorated career.

He is survived by his wife and partner of 57 years, Mary Joyce (Taylor) Logel, daughters Jenny Logel and Sandy Robertson, grandsons Jason Logel and Bross Robertson and granddaughters Grace Keaty and Brana Robertson, his brother Dr Robert and Gene (Marqua) Logel of Chapel Hill, NC and sister Mary Ellen {Tom) O'Donnell of Florissant, Missouri. He is preceded in death by his parents, and a grandson, Timothy William Logel.

Bill had a passion for improving the lives of young people where he could. Bill was one of the founding Members of the Board of Commissioners of the Oswego Fire Protection District, which he served for 11 years. He taught Middle Management night school at Aurora University. He was Chairman of the Oswego Corporate Development Council, Chairman of the Board of the Oswego Family YMCA, Chairman of the Corporate Development Council at MUST, and a member of the Board of Trustees of MUST. He helped the Oswego High Schools link with Caterpillar to start their pre-engineering studies program. He believed that our children were our Future. Bill was selected by his peers to be in the Academy of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineers of the University.

Visitation will be at the Dunn Family Funeral Home with Crematory, 1801 S Douglas Road, Oswego on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, from 4-7pm.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home.

The Colonel will be buried with full military honors under the auspices of the United States Army and the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Squad at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, Elwood, Illinois at 12:00 NOON.

Please join us at 3:00 p.m. for a Celebration of Life at the VFW 121 N. River Street Montgomery, Illinois, in lieu of flowers, contributions to Misericordia Home in Chicago will be appreciated.

For information 630-554-3888 or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com