William (Bill) Voigt Hathaway, 68, of Cherry Valley, IL passed away April 1, 2026 after a hardfought, 3-year battle with cancer. He was at home surrounded by his family in his final moments. Bill was born October 17, 1957, in Key West, FL the son of Hap and Marge (Voigt) Hathaway.

Bill met the love of his life, Cindy Gorham, in 1976. They were married October 8, 1977. Together they welcomed Tyler and Kaelyn, completing their family. Family was most important to Bill, and he was devastated with the loss of their daughter, Kaelyn, in 2021.

The family took many Disney trips together. Grandpa Bill was looking forward to the day he could take his grandson, Henry, to Disney World in Florida.

Bill graduated from Kirkland Hiawatha High School in 1976, where he made many lifelong friends. He worked at Camcar for 22 years, and R&D Thiel for 20 years as a truck driver/crane operator, retiring in 2020. He also worked for the Flora Township for 25 years, keeping those ditches mowed in tip top shape for all the township residents.

Bill had many hobbies. He was a talented woodworker who took down two barns to repurpose the wood into beautiful furniture - Bill’s Barnwood Creations. Bill was also an avid auction goer. He was affectionately known as “Dollar Bill” or “Number 21”. In his free time, he could always be found working in the shop fixing something old or making something new.

Bill is loved and will be missed by his wife Cindy, son Tyler and wife Sam, and his adored grandson Henry William; sisters Karen (Bob) Morris, Barbara (Ken) Leenstra, mother-in-law Darlene Streit; sister-in-law Cindy Gorham, many nieces, nephews, wonderful friends, and his little dog Otis.

Bill is preceded in death by his beloved “girlie” Kaelyn in 2021, his parents, Hap and Marge, in-laws Tuffy and Geri Gorham, Don Streit, brother-in-law Jim Gorham, sister-in-law Judy (Gary) Lamping, and brother Woody (Carolyn) Hathaway.

A visitation for Bill will take place at Anderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services on Thursday, April 9th, 2026 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A second visitation will take place at Anderson Funeral and Cremation Services on Friday, April 10th, 2026, at 10 a.m., a funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m., with a burial to follow. 

Bill was a quiet, thoughtful person who would do anything for anybody. He will be missed by all who knew him.