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An avid woodworkers, Bill Birckelbaw inspired projects that helped all of us.
BLOOMINGTON — This one was for Bill.
Members of the Central Illinois Woodworkers weren’t strangers to the project they were about to undertake, but this time, there was a personal element.
Longtime member Bill Birckelbaw was receiving treatment at Community Cancer Center in Normal last year when he met a woman who’d lost her hair and needed a wig.
She also needed a wig stand.
Birckelbaw, handy with tools and skilled at woodworking, got to work — despite his own diagnosis.
Birckelbaw
Although he finished the project he started — the woman received her wig stand from him — he didn’t feel like he was done, friend Todd Johnson remembers.
“He’s always been someone who was dedicated to the community,” Johnson said. “He wanted to do something, he wanted to make a whole bunch more because there’s people across the state and across the country who have a need.”
From left, John Baker of Normal, Todd Johnson of Normal and Gary Robinson of Congerville examine a load of wood destined for woodworking projects as they gathered in uptown Normal on Aug. 24 to remember their friend, Bill Birckelbaw.
Birckelbaw, of Bloomington, had the tools, had his own workshop even, and there was no question that he had the skills to taken on the project by himself, had he wanted to do so.
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But at that time, he also had cancer. Sometimes, it got in the way.
“He helped when he could,” said friend and group member John Baker. “But his health was such that (he couldn’t always).”
Baker, Johnson and Gary Robinson were members of the Central Illinois Woodworkers, but they were also friends with Birckelbaw outside of the group.
When his health began to fail, they stepped in to make his vision a reality.
“One time he was disappointed, and he broke down because he couldn’t do it,” Baker said. “He just wasn’t even able to walk down to the shop.”
His friends decided they would pick up where he left off.
Bill Birckelbaw operating a sawmill at his home.
Although the pandemic struck not long after they started, they managed to pull together about 700 pieces of donated wood, from which they made 86 wig stand kits for the Central Illinois Woodturners group to finish.
The finished products will then be donated to the Susan G. Komen Memorial Affiliate in Peoria, where they would be distributed.
Certainly it wasn’t the first time a woodworkers group had made wig stands: In 2018, a member of the Central Illinois Woodturners was featured in the Woodford County Journal for similar work.
What made it different this time, however, was that for the four men who put the kits together, there was a new sense of urgency.
“I talked to (Birckelbaw) a few times after he went into the hospital for about a week before he passed away,” Baker remembered. “He said he was very pleased that we did get it done, but he did keep apologizing for the fact that he didn’t finish it up to the end.”
Birckelbaw died on June 12, living long enough to know the kits were finished, but not long enough to see them turned into the finished products he’d imagined.
“I do think we accomplished what we set out to do, which was get the components ready for the turners so that they could turn out the wig stands and get them out into the hands of people,” Johnson said.
Said Baker: “I think he would have been really pleased with it.”
Baker added that “98%” of the work the three men did was directly in memoriam of their friend — but they might not stop there.
The wig stand Bill Birckelbaw made before his friends finished the project.
Even though “Bill’s passing took the wind out of the sails,” a little bit, Baker said, the three are still weighing their next community service project and they’d like to hear back from anyone with an idea.
“I think our message with this project was: There was an expert woodworker who wanted to give back to the community … and we just wanted to help him achieve that goal,” Johnson said.
In the wake of the completed project and of their friend’s death, Baker said, “We haven’t figured out what’s next for us and we’ll have to probably enlist a new person, since four people and woodshop is what you really need. We just knew that we wanted to help fulfill Bill’s goal.”
The Illinois State University campus through the years
Air View of east campus complex
1966: This is an air view of the new $8 million east campus complex at Illinois State University. The two 18-story residence halls have a capacity of 1,592 students.
Dynamax portable telescope
1979: James D. Bailey donated this $1,240 Dynamax portable telescope to the Illinois State University Foundation, explains its use to Dr. Harold J. born, ISU physics department chairman. Physics students will use the instrument to observe stars and planets.
Flag brought down for the birthday of Malcolm X
1970: A group of construction workers twice overpowered security police at Illinois State University and raised the flag which had been lowered to half staff Tuesday, the birthday of Malcolm X.
Golf team
1979: The Decatur connection: Illinois State University’s golf team has a Decatur flavor. From left, Jim Bailey of MacArthur, Randy Colter of Stephen Decatur, Tim Lawson of MacArthur and Scott Shelton of MacArthur.
Horton field house
1964: This is the new Horton Fieldhouse at Illinois State University where Stephen Decatur High School plays Colfax Octavia in the sectional basketball tournament. The fieldhouse seats 5,645 Illinois State athletic director Burton O’Connor looks over the layout. In the past sectional tournament for this area has usually be held in the Reds’ Kintner Gym.
Illinois State dome
1984: An artist’s conception of the planned Illinois State University arena dome. The arena would seat 10,500 for basketball, volleyball and concerts. The processed moved a step closer to reality when the Board of Trustees endorsed the project, subject to approval by the Board of Higher Education.
Illinois State University football
1990: Illinois State defenders Vander Harris (69), Tom Newberry (25), Hester Williams (73) and Tony Jones (46) celebrate after stopping the Eastern Illinois offense on downs.
Illinois State University Redbird Arena
1989: Redbird Arena is a 10,200-seat multi-purpose arena located in Normal, on the campus of Illinois State University. Built in 1989, the building is notable for its use of a Teflon-coated roof that gives off a “glow” during night events.
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Reggie the Redbird mascot is shown during an Illinois State University basketball game in 1983.
Stephen Decatur in Sectional Tourney play
1964: Neither team had scored in first sectional basketball tournament game at Horton Fieldhouse, but Stephen Decatur Reds in white uniforms were driving against Colfax Octavia in game Reds won 71-40. Free throw lanes, center circle and court border are appropriately painted red.
Student Union
1957: The new Illinois State University Student Union building, originally scheduled for dedication on Founders Day, will be dedicated instead on May 18. It was constructed on a bond revenue basis after 2,300 alumni, faculty members, students and friends contributed $150,000 to start the project. The bonds are to be retired by student fees over a period of years.
Track and field team
1978: Illinois State University’s record setting mile relay team is heading for the national indoor champions in Detroit. From left, Stan Hawkins, Eli Thomas, Dennis Duckworth and Vince Jones.