William H. "Bill" Grady

William H. Grady, 97, a longtime airport official in Rockford and a former Belvidere city treasurer, died Sunday (March 14) at his home.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He also was a World War II veteran, a proud alumnus of the University of Notre Dame and a devout Catholic, who was one of the first lay lectors at St. James Catholic Church in Belvidere after Vatican II.

Bill worked for more than three decades for the Greater Rockford Airport Authority, the government agency that operates what is now Chicago Rockford International Airport. He was the airport authority’s executive director for about 10 years before retiring in 1988. During his tenure, he oversaw the construction of the airport’s modern terminal building.

Though raised in Belvidere, Bill was born on Aug. 8, 1923, on his grandfather’s farm in rural Dane County, near Madison, Wis.

He was married for more than 67 years to Patricia Schmitz Grady, who died in 2015. He also was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Elizabeth “Lisa” Grady; his brother, David D. Grady; and his sister Mary Elizabeth Gericke.

Bill went off to Notre Dame in 1941, but his college education was interrupted by World War II. He served three years in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a radar counter-measures specialist before returning to Notre Dame and graduating in 1948.

He was active in and a former officer of the Great Lakes chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives, a former member of the board of OSF St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford and served for 15 years on the finance council at St. Rita Catholic Church in Rockford. He also was elected to six terms as city treasurer of Belvidere. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bill was active in the Belvidere Little League organization as a coach, umpire and league official.

Survivors include three sons, William R. (Pamela), Timothy E. (Pamela), and John P.; two daughters, Ann G. (Charles) Bown and Maureen G. (Mark) Himmel; 13 grandchildren, Amanda (Jacob Stroup) Grady, Timothy (Rebecca) Grady, Paul (Jennifer) Grady, Matthew Grady, Erika Grady, Dylan Grady, Jordan (Chad) Zimmerman, Christopher (Carrie) Bown, Victoria (Chris Herskovits) Bown, Alexandra (Kevin Olmschenk) Bown, Claira (Ryan) DeValk, and Natalie and Margaret Himmel. He also is survived by 11 great-grandchildren, Hannah, Harper, Ronan, Patricia Rose, Nora, Lennon, Henry, Zara, Mara, Ayelet and Liam.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. Tuesday (March 23) at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., Rockford, followed by a Mass at 11:30 a.m. at St. Rita Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Dr., Rockford. Burial will be private. Those attending services must wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the University of Notre Dame, Office of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, or to the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, P.O. Box 1992, Savannah, GA 31402.

Arrangements entrusted to Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory. Share online memories and condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com