William "Bill" G. Gallivan


PEORIA - Col. William "Bill" G. Gallivan, 89, of Peoria, IL, passed away peacefully in his home on Monday, January 1, 2018.
He was born on November 22, 1928, in Ivesdale, IL. He married Elizabeth J. Reiss in 1958. She preceded him in death on October 15, 2016.
He was also preceded in death by his sister, Katherine Weaver; and his brother, Patrick Gallivan.

Betty and Bill Gallivan had five children, Elizabeth Zilkowski (Bruce), William P. Gallivan (Lynne), Sharon Parsons, Daniel Gallivan (Kelly) and Debby Gallivan; 17 grandchildren, Sarah (Scott), Rachael (Nate), Matthew, Rebecca, Joseph, Hannah, Liam, Rory, Jordan, Reiss, Rebecca, Jonathan, Maria, Jennifer, Patrick, Charlotte and James; and 2 great-grandchildren, Clare and Bernadette. Also surviving is Sheila Yockey, his youngest sister.
Bill was a U.S. Army veteran of 28 years, serving in both Korea in 1951 and Vietnam in 1966. Following his service in the military, he worked for Boeing Aircraft. He retired to Peoria, IL. He was an avid fisherman who looked forward to his yearly fishing trips with his sons.


Bill was of the Roman Catholic faith. Throughout his life he served his church faithfully, beginning as an alter server, and later becoming a sacristan and a Eucharistic Minister. He was on the Pastoral Care team at OSF Saint Francis Hospital and was a lifetime Lay Missionary of Charity member. He was also an active member of St. Mark Church, serving on the pastoral counsel, leading a men's Bible study and hosting a Cursillo group.
Bill's service to God, family and country will remain forever an example for his children and those who knew him.


Visitation will be at Wright and Salmon Mortuary on Friday, January 5, 2018, from 5 to 8 p.m., with a recitation of the rosary at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Peoria, IL, with additional visitation 30 minutes prior. Msgr. Brian Brownsey will officiate. A graveside service will be Saturday, January 6, 2018, at 3 p.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery in Ivesdale, IL.
Memorials in Bill's name may be made to St. Mark Catholic Church.
Friends and family may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences at www.wrightandsalmon.com.

Bill's Military History

Entered the Army June 1950, 2 nd Lt, Armor Served in:

Korea 1950-1952, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division

Colorado 1952, 11 th Armored Cavalry Regiment

Maryland 1952-1953, Ordnance Basic Course

Michigan 1953-1955, Detroit Arsenal

Germany 1955-1958, Maintenance Officer, Western Area Support Command, Kaiserslautern

New York 1958-1959, Syracuse University Graduate School

France 1960-1962, European Communication Zone, Ordnance Budget Officer

Germany 1963-1964, 703rd Maintenance Battalion, Executive Officer, Kitzingen

Pennsylvania 1964-1966, Letterkenny Army Depot, Major Item Data Agency, Executive Officer

Saigon, Vietnam 1966-1967, HQ U.S.Army,

Qui Nhon, Vietnam 1967, Commanding Officer, 5th Maintenance Battalion

Washington, DC, The Pentagon 1967-1970, Office of Deputy Undersecretary of the Army, Operations Research, Senior Project Officer

Taegu, Korea 1970-1972, 8th U.S. Army, Maintenance Officer

Kentucky, Fort Knox 1972-1976, U.S. Army Armor School and Fort Knox, Comptroller

Alabama, Huntsville 1976-1978, U.S. Army Missile Research and Development Command, Director of Resource Management

Alabama 1978, Retired from U.S. Army with rank of Colonel

Kansas, Wichita 1978-1985, The Boeing Company, Manager, Engineering Interface for the Strategic Rotary Launcher System and other Aircraft related Missile Weapons Systems

Pennsylvania 1985-1990, The Boeing Company, Manager, Technical Engineering Interface for V22 (Osprey) Aircraft

Pennsylvania 1990, Retired from The Boeing Company