Bicycle Bill, A Fixture In Mt. Greenwood, Dies

CHICAGO, IL — Called by many as a "fixture" in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood, William E. Vogler is now mourned by community leaders and business owners, especially the ones with shops on 111th Street. That's where "Bicycle Bill" was usually seen riding his bike. Bicycle Bill was a neighborhood resident for decades and now remembered as a "gentle and kind soul." He died of cancer last week at age 67.

"He was a fixture in Mount Greenwood," said Rev. Tom Conde, pastor at St. Christina Church. "We saw him regularly at Christina's and he always came on his bicycle. People from all the neighborhood businesses knew him and remember how he loved to talk to everyone."

Vogler was remembered at a service attended by many neighborhood residents over the weekend. His obituary from the Beverly-Ridge Funeral Home has also brought out many tributes, including those in the business community that knew him best.

"Bill was a long time regular at Alternate Reality," owner Tim Davis said. "He loved the Three Stooges, Svengoolie, Dark Shadows and the Universal Monsters."

"Watching him ride his bike up and down 111th Street made him a fixture in the community, his gentle nature and love of the fantastic made him a fixture in our hearts at the store."

Those from Baron's Shoes and Walgreen's were among the others who shared memories of Bicycle Bill.

"I will never forget when you got your brand new bicycle and parked it right inside the front door," a tribute from someone at Walgreen's said. "I love my bicycle too, Bill, and yours was a beauty. Wish I could have said good bye to you, Bill. I certainly hope that you are resting very peacefully."

Conde said the funeral parlor at Beverly-Ridge was packed when he came to deliver the service. Mourners were comforted by sharing stories about Bill.

"He was a gentle soul, an incredible, gentle soul. He never ventured much out of the neighborhood and was loved here for years," Conde said. "I was taken aback to hear of his death. I had just seen him a week or two ago and he was on his bike."

Vogler died of cancer, having been in hospice at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park in his final days, the pastor said.

Bicycle Bill was a special needs person who took care of his mother until she was in her 90s and someone who Conde said "was more or less able to navigate on his own."

"He was one of those people who, when you drive down 111th Street, you think is just a guy on a bike," Conde said. "But if you are a business owner or church member and you start seeing regulars like him, you get to know him."

His bicycle skills were noteworthy as well.

"He could ride that bike at a tenth of a mile per hour and not lose his balance," Conde said. "He could ride it into our lobby and not hit anyone, and no one had to get out of his way."

"He was a delightful soul."

Photo courtesy of Beverly-Ridge Funeral Home