William “Bill” Joseph Shear
William “Bill” Joseph Shear, 83, Palmyra, Mo., passed away at Hannibal Regional Hospital on May 18, 2023, where he had been a patient since April 26.

William “Bill” Joseph Shear
Bill was born in Palmyra on Sept. 20, 1939, a son of Gerald M. and Edna E. Gibson Shear.
He attended St Joseph’s Catholic School and Palmyra High School in Palmyra.
He worked at Knapheide Manufacturing for 33 years before retiring in 1995.
He was an avid bowler with several “300” game series and loved to trap shoot. Anything outdoor he loved, especially fishing and hunting.
Bill is survived by two daughters, Melinda “Mindy” (Luke) Doellman and Vicki Shear, both of Quincy, Ill; a brother, Thomas E. (Pat) Shear, and a sister, Darla J. (Whitey) Vandenboom, both of Quincy; five grandchildren, Danielle Doellman (Nathaniel Sealock) and Joshua Doellman (Bill’s namesake), Alicia (George) Gore, Nicholas McClean (Gwen Gallaher) and Bailey Shear (Jacob Rowsey); eight great-grandchildren, Dawson and Dylan Rossiter, and another great-grandson due in August, William “Will”, Adrienne and Grayson Gore, Riley Jo and Ramsey Lynn McClean and Aiden Rowsey as well as several nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by a very good friend whom he looked to as the son he never had, Dave Redd, and his family of Palmyra.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Lori Jo McClean; two grandsons, Matthew RJ Doellman and Jesse Rowsey; two sisters, Joan Crane and Rosemary Shear in infancy; and a brother, Gerald “Junior” Shear.
Funeral services were held on Monday, May 22, at Duker & Haugh Funeral Home. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to American Heart Association or American Cancer Society. Messages may be shared online at www.dukerandhaugh.com.