William (Bill or W.O. ) O'Brien Edwards was born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and died in his home
in Nauvoo, Illinois, surrounded by his wife, children, and grandchildren.  When he was about 7
years old, his family moved to Quincy, Illinois.  He went to Quincy Public Schools and graduated
from Quincy Senior High in 1966.
He attended the University if Illinois at Champaign.  He then enlisted in the U.S. Army for four
years.  During his time in the army, they sent him to Monterey School of Languages where he
learned Mandarin Chinese,  He deployed to Taiwan, where he served as translator.  He was
then honorably discharged in 1972.
He then attended Southern Illinois University, in Edwardsville, where he received his MBA.  In
September of 1973, while playing basketball with some friends in his apartment parking lot, he
met his future wife, Margaret Elizabeth Schaub.  It was love at first sight for both of them, and
they were married on January 5, 1974, at the Immaculate Conception Church, Centerville, St
Clair County, Illinois.
After their marriage, Bill and Marge moved to Gibson City, Illinois, where he was employed by
Central Soya, as a grain trader.  While living there, Bill and Marge welcomed twin daughters,
Nicole and Shannon Rose.  
In March of 1977, Bill was transferred to Central Soya headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana,
where he and Marge welcomed a son, Timothy Jacob O'Brien.
In May 1978, Bill accepted a position with Hubinger CO., Keokuk, Iowa.  He rose through the
administrative ranks to Vice President of Grain and Industrial Purchasing.
After Roquette, America, bought Hubinger, Bill worked there until retirement.  He then went to
work for Iowa Gateway in Keokuk.  Bill started his own Company, Rainbow Solutions, and was
contracted to RASI, a subsidiary of Roquette.  After his retirement, Bill couldn't sit still. Always
the eternal entrepreneur, he was on his computer looking for ways to start another company. 
During his lifetime, Bill was also very active in Boy Scouts and received his Eagle Scout and
also received the Silver Beaver award in his later years of service.  As an adult, he served in
various Scouting positions, most recently as a leader in Troop #43- Keokuk for many years.  His
fondest wish was for every schout to attain their Eagle and he saw many of the boys achieve
that rank.
Bill liked to play golf and went on several golf outings with his friends.  He also had a fascination
with magic tricks.  When they went to Las Vegas and saw a magic show he was hooked, and no
trip was complete unless he went to a magic shop.  For many years, he performed magic tricks
at area schools and organizations.  He also liked playing Santa Claus at Lexington Square and
the Keokuk Bowling Alley when the local Santa needed help. 

Another hobby he thoroughly enjoyed was horseback riding. He belonged to the Quincy area
Ridge Riders.  He loved going camping with them to Siloam Springs near Quincy, Shawnee
National Forest, in southern Illinois, and several trips to Nebraska.
Bill was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints in 2004.  He and Maggie
were sealed for time and eternity in the Nauvoo Temple in 208. 
Bill is survived by his wife, Maggie, their children Nicole, Shannon, and Tim; grandchildren,
LLucas, Dalton, Ellie, Kallie, Brodie, Brendon, Caleb, and Emory; son in law Kenny Hoenig;
special friends, randy fisher, Kennedy Smith, and Sami Tinsley.  Also, his brother, Richard
Leolen (R.L.) Edwards; brother- and sister- in- law Michael Henry and Iris Pauline (McFarland)
Schaub, and Mary Luellen (Cook) Weinland, and meany nieces, nephews, and cousins. 
He was proceeded in death by his parents, Eugene O'Brien (E.O.) and Perneiche Alice (Hobbs)
Edwads, two brothers, Jerry Oscar (J.O. ) and Stephen Eugene (S.E.) Edwards.  Also, his
paternal grandparents, Oscar "Ott" and Elsie Marie (Pierce) Edwards; and maternal
grandparents, Richard Eldon and Lola Honor (Criger) Hobbs. Also, his father- and mother- in -
law Bernard Jacob and Margaret Rose (Stinson) Schaub, and son in -law, Stacy Leroy Humes

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Saturday, July 12, 2025, at The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery north of
Hamilton with military rites by the United States Army Honor Guard and Hancock County Honor
Guard. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 PM Thursday evening, July 10 th at Printy Funeral
Home in Hamilton. The family would like all scouts, leaders, and past scouts to wear their class
A uniforms if possible. In lieu of flowers, the family asks please make donations to the
Campership Fund-Mississippi Valley Scout District. Printy Funeral Home of Hamilton is in
charge of arrangements.