William "Bill" Isaac Rowand, 69, of Rock Island, passed away Sunday, March 3, 2019 at his residence. He was born on November 7, 1949 in Aurora, IL, the son of Ike and Billie Naylor Rowand.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 12:30 pm on Friday, March 22, 2019 at the Knox Chapel of Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 2106 7th Ave., Rock Island. Visitation will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm at the Knox Chapel on Thursday, March 21, 2019. Burial will be at National Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the Geneseo Humane Society or to the Christians Who Care Ministry.

He married Wendy Greenwood in 1974 in Geneseo, IL. Bill served in the US Army Corps of Engineers in Vietnam. He graduated from Oklahoma State University (Go Cowboys!) He raised champion Simmental cattle before becoming a contractor specializing in restoring older homes. He was immensely proud of his work, especially his residence, the Beardsley House in Rock Island (1867). Bill was a loving husband to Wendy, a proud and devoted father to his children, an involved grandpa who loved family vacations in Alabama. Bill was an intensely proud and fiercely protective patriarch, a loyal and passionate friend, an animal lover, and a Christian.

He served as president of the Illinois Simmental Association, NARI, Broadway Historic District and Preservation Commission member, and  Geneseo soccer coach.

Bill is survived by his wife, Wendy; son, Kris (Chrissy) Rowand of Keller, TX; daughter, Mandy(Jason) Stephens of Wesley Chapel, FL; grandchildren, Jaxson and Ayden Rowand, Jocelyn, Jillian, and Jameson Stephens; and special friends Jeff, Angie, Jacob and Jessica Rettig of Flower Mound, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents.