William E. "Bill" Dust, 87 of Effingham, passed away at 2:55 a.m.Saturday, January 31, 2015 at St. John's Hospital in Springfield.

A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham with burial in St. Anthony Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to the cancer research center of the donor's choice. Online condolences may be left at www.bauerfh.com

Bill was born April 22, 1927 in Dieterich, the son of Bernard and Helen (Donsbach) Dust. He married Betty J. Colburn in 1952 and she preceded him in death in 2003. Bill then married Marian Kuhn in 2004 and she survives. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham, Effingham Knights of Columbus Council #665 and had also served with the United States Army. Bill enjoyed bowling, eating out, solving a rubik's cube and always wore a huge smile. He was a crane operator at a steel mill for over 43 years.

Bill is survived by his wife, Marian of Effingham; son, Bruce of Dyer, Indiana; daughter, Barbara (Doug) Starwalt of Jewett; step-son, Kent Schmidt of Dieterich; four grandchildren, Lynn (Jim) Beilfuss, Christina (Tim) Link, Michael Dust (friend, Dena), LeAnn Hardiek (friend, James); three step-grandchildren, Chad (Sheri) Starwalt, Stacey Starwalt (fiance, Bobby) and Kayla (Paul) Goodwin; five great-grandchildren, Jimmy Beilfuss, Katelyn Beilfuss, Josh Beilfuss, Aiden Hardiek and Will Hardiek; three step-great-grandchildren, Bo, Avery and Isaiah Starwalt.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Betty; two sisters, Florence Richardson and Dorothy Thomas and step-son, Larry Schmidt.