Obituary of William Jacob Traynor

William Jacob Traynor
1946 – 2017

Bill was born November 30, 1946, in Waukegan, IL, to Robert and Alice (nee Thompson) Traynor.  A Waukegan, IL resident the majority of his life, he moved to Beach Park, IL, before settling in Pleasant Prairie, WI.  

A 1964 graduate of Waukegan High School, he went on to receive his bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, Macomb, in 1969, and later pursued graduate studies at Roosevelt University, Chicago.

In 1969, he was drafted into the U.S. Army as a military police sergeant, serving overseas in Korea.  He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.  

Upon separation from the service, he was employed as district manager for the Chicago Tribune before becoming a probation officer for Lake County, IL, where he instituted the Public Service Program as an alternative to incarceration while providing needed services to the community.  As the first program of its kind in IL, it received a National Association of Counties (NACO) award.  Bill held many part-time jobs over the years, including Knox Real Estate, Grand Slam Pub, The Bally Muck, Victory Hospital, and the Waukegan Port District.  He served as production manager and graphic artist at Signs Now, Gurnee, for over 20 years, retiring in 2010.  

Bill loved sports, participating in softball, football, and basketball for the park district and college intramural teams.  He was a life-long fan of the Chicago Cubs and Bears.  He loved the outdoors, biking, fishing, hiking, and camping.  He was a long-time member of Memorial United Methodist Church in Zion, IL, and sang in the Chancel Choir for many years.  Most recently, he attended services at Northpoint Church in Winthrop Harbor, IL.  Bill celebrated 30 years of sobriety and mentored many recovering alcoholics over the years. Bill loved road trips and family vacations, which remain the stuff of legend to this day.  Above all, faith and family were his passions.  

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and oldest son, Jason Traynor.  A beloved husband, father, step-father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, Bill will be remembered by his wife, Marjory Traynor, the mother of his two sons, Sun ok Traynor, son Andrew (Holly) Traynor, step-daughter Sara (Brandon) Martin, step-son Alex Wicketts, sisters Carol (Dick) Paddock and Roberta (John) Daly, grandsons Finnegan and Colin Traynor and Bane Martin, granddaughters Emily and Shelby Wargo and Briseis Wicketts, as well as many nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in support of children in need via:

Love INC of Lake County – Kids Closet Ministry
339 North Lakewood Ave.
Waukegan, IL 60085

Or, as Bill was fond of saying, “Do good, not bad.”  Please pay it forward by helping or serving another in need.

A visitation will be held for Bill at the Congdon Funeral Home 3012 Sheridan Rd. Zion, IL on Thursday September 21st from 5 p.m. until 8p.m., and will continue on Friday, September 22nd at North Point Church 900 Lewis Ave, Winthrop Harbor, from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be held at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.