A U.S. Army detachment from Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri carries the remains of World War II veteran Edgar William “Billy” Nevois to his final resting place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Prairie du Rocher. At left, Illinois Patriot Guard Riders hold flags and salute Nevois, who died in 1944 (David Wilhelm photo).

Nearly 82 years after his death, World War II veteran Edgar William “Billy” Nevois is home again.

Despite his long absence, it was obvious on May 16 that Nevois had not been forgotten.

A visitation for Nevois was held at Pechacek Funeral Home in Red Bud and was followed by a military graveside service at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in his hometown of Prairie du Rocher.

Nevois, a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Force, was among nine crew members killed Oct. 7, 1944, during a bombing mission near the border of Germany and Poland.

Nevois, the co-pilot in a B-17G Flying Fortress, was 21 years old when he perished in a crash caused by intense German anti-aircraft fire. The remains of five of the crew members were discovered in 1948, three of which were unidentified. The three were buried together in 1950.

Nevois was not among them; his remains were discovered in a Poland cemetery in 2022, along with American equipment and clothing. The remains were transferred to the United States, and dental records confirmed Nevois’ identity. Family members learned this in May 2025.

Among the attendees at the May 16 visitation and graveside service was Mabel Whelan, Nevois’ 94-year-old sister and the youngest of eight children born to Edgar and Augusta (Blow) Nevois.

Whelan was just 12 years old when Billy died during the mission. She was 8 when Nevois left Prairie du Rocher to live on his own.

“I’m grateful for the remembrance of his life and times,” Whelan said. “I’m grateful (people) are doing what they’re doing. He gave his life for our country.”

Whelan said she has no vivid memories of growing up with Billy before he left home. After his death, she said the grieving family did not discuss it.

Just 24 hours before the visitation for Nevois, a celebration of life in Belleville and a graveside service, also at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, was held for the Nevois’ oldest daughter, Irene Haithcock, who died April 25 in Debary, Fla., at the age of 101.

Haithcock and Billy are buried a few feet from their parents and other siblings.

Like Billy, Haithcock also served in the miliary, as did Nevois brothers Elmer (1922-89), James (1928-2013) and Robert (1935-2008). There were two other daughters: Virginia Reinhold (1926-2012) and Mary Helen Masterson (1929-2016).

The Red Bud-to-Prairie du Rocher procession for Nevois, which was escorted by law enforcement vehicles, departed the funeral home in Red Bud and proceeded south on Illinois 3 to Ruma, where it turned on Illinois 155 to head southwest toward St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

All along the route, people stood on both sides of the road, saluting and waving American flags. The crowds grew in Prairie du Rocher, where groups of more than a dozen gathered in places.

Mabel Whelan took notice.

“That was great. Very good,” she said, expressing thankfulness that threatening skies did not produce rain during the service.

Kathy Whelan, of Lafayette, La., Billy’s niece and the daughter of Mabel, was also touched.

“It was beautiful to see,” she said of the procession for her uncle. “I had tears in my eyes. He should be honored, and he is. It showed. We were definitely honoring him.”

Mabel’s friend of 42 years, Cindy DeVall, also of Lafayette, La., was in the same vehicle with Kathy and Mabel Whelan as they began to leave the cemetery.

“Little children. Big children. Workmen stopping with their trucks. A guy working on electricity stopping and putting his hand on his heart,” she said of the trip from Red Bud to the cemetery. “It was an amazing tribute to a young man who left and never came home. Now, 82 years later, we’re bringing him home to the town he grew up in.”

There were at least 150 people at the graveside service, which was officiated by Fr. Sebastian Ukoh. Taps was played, and there was a 21-gun salute. Mabel Whelan was presented with the flag that covered the casket of her brother.

“He deserved every bit of that,” said Billy’s nephew and Mabel’s son, Mark Whelan, of Columbia. “He was a fallen hero, and he had his life taken from him in the prime of life at 21 years old. He now has come home to rest with his mom and dad, and that’s what’s important.”

Mark Whelan, like others, said he got tears in his eyes as the procession made its way to Prairie du Rocher.

“You saw how people took time out of their day to come out and honor a hero coming home,” he said. “There were a lot of people in every town we went through. It was remarkable.”