Emmet Bud Poyer

Emmet Bud Poyer, 85, of Rockford, died on October 29, 2007 in River Bluff Nursing Home after a courageous battle with cancer.nbsp;Emmet was born on February 10, 1922 in Marengo, IL the son of Claude and Mary (Sheahan) Poyer.nbsp; Emmet was raised in Marengo and Belvidere and moved to Rockford where he met and married Alice Carlson on November 26, 1942. nbsp; Emmet was a U.S.Navy Veteran of WW II.nbsp; He had worked as a tool and die maker for George Roper Corporation.nbsp; He became a representative for the International United Auto Workers Union in 1949 and later became the National Coordinator of Organizing.nbsp; He was a famous, well-known labor leader who constantly fought for the working man. He had fought for womens rights and was a card carrying member of the NAACP.nbsp; Emmet was an avid pigeon flyer. Emmet and Zeke Giorgi started the Pigeon Bill in Illinois with the help of Gov. Jim Thompson.nbsp; Emmet was very active in the Democratic Party, especially in the 60s.nbsp; Emmets love of his life was his wife Alice and he loved spending time with is grandchildren and great-grandchildren. nbsp; Emmet is survived by his wife, Alice; his daughters, Suzanne C. McDonald, Mary Jo (Robert) Short and Vicki J. Fulton; his grandchildren, Brad Abrahamson, Michael (Mary) McDonald, Elizabeth (John) Tassoni, Steven (Gretchen) Johnson, Molly (Craig) Wilcox, Gary (Sarah) Cook, Hannah Fulton and Emily Fulton; his great-grandchildren, Dominic Tassoni, Matthew McDonald, Lucas Tassoni, Olivia Wilcox, Natalie Johnson, Julia Tassoni, Mason Wilcox and Grant Johnson and many nieces and nephews.nbsp; Emmet was preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Helen Ainsworth and Dorothy Feltz. nbsp; Funeral services for Emmet will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 2, 2007 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Mulford Chapel.nbsp; Interment will be private.nbsp; A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2007 from 4 p.m. 7 p.m.nbsp; Family and friends may extend online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfuneralhome.com.nbsp;nbsp;In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the family for a memorial fund to be establsihed at a later date.