William G. Flanagan

William G. Flanagan, 74, of West Peoria, IL passed away December 29, 2015. William was born February 23, 1941, to William and Mary Flanagan of Monmouth, IL. Bill graduated from Avon High School in 1959 and Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL, in 1963. He later received his Masters Degree from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Eileen Conover (12/13/2014) and brother, Michael Flanagan (11/6/2014). He is survived by his brother, David Flanagan of Phoenix, AZ and sister, Jean Prina, St Petersburg, FL and many nieces and nephews. Bill “Flash” Flanagan was a successful high school and college basketball coach. As a coach he will be remembered most for his years at Illinois State University where he helped head coach Gene Smithson lead the ISU Redbirds to national top 10 rankings during the 1975-76, 1976-77, & 1977-78 seasons and a combined 66-18 record. The greatest legacy that “Flash” leaves behind here in Central Illinois, as founder / operator of Flash’s Hoops, was not only unparalleled love for the game of basketball, but it was his true passion for helping young men to achieve their dreams through the game. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday, January 3, 2016 at Watson-Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory, Galesburg.  Eulogies and prayer service will begin at 7 p.m.  Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, January 4, 2016 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.  Rev. William Miller, IC will officiate.  Burial will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Monmouth, IL.  Memorials may be made to the Bill “Flash” Flanagan Memorial Fund.