William Edward Schreiber

William Edward Schreiber August 6, 1917 to June 21, 2006 William Edward Schreiber passed away on June 21, 2006 in Marion, Illinois. Born and raised in Blue Island, Illinois of early German pioneer families, he earned his degree in electrical engineering from the University of Illinois in 1937, and worked for the telephone company until receiving a very low draft number. He reported for active duty in the United States Army on December 27, 1940 serving for six years and saw action in the European theater with the 149th Signal Corps, 9th Division under Gen. Leonard. Landing on Omaha Beach in September of 1944, his unit saw action in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. Fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, his unit was involved with the capture of the Ludendorf bridge over the Rhine at Remagen before it could be completely destroyed by the defending German units. He returned to the telephone company after the war, and with his Uncle Robert, built the last Seyfarth home in Blue Island, now a registered National Historic landmark. Going into the private Laundromat business in the Blue Island area after leaving the telephone company, he served as the president of the Blue Island Public Library overseeing their then new building in 1973. Shortly thereafter Mr. Schreiber moved to Marion, Illinois where he was instrumental in creating and developing the Crab Orchard and Egyptian Railroad, a short haul line serving southern Illinois with partners Hugh Crane and Herb Soberg, also from the Chicago area. A railroad enthusiast at heart, he purchased and lived in a traveling office car built in 1912 for the Illinois Central Railroad General Superintendent, George Christy, from 1976 until having to move to a retirement home in 2002. Mr. Schreiber was a member of the Illinois Live Steamer Club in Chicago, owning a 7 inch gauge model live steam engine which still operates today in Homer Township under the careful guidance of life long friend Ray Piper. While in Blue Island, he was an avid antique car collector owning a 1928 Rolls Royce, a Stanley Steamer, and a Detroit Electric. His antique watch collection, coin and stamp collections, and old radios gave great enjoyment, as did his delight in attending the Lyric Opera. However, his other love, Aladdin Lamps became a passion. At the time of his death he owned the premier collection American Aladdin lamps manufactured between 1908 and 2000, plus a large angle lamp collection. These lamps, some of which lighted and heated his executive railroad car will now form the basis of a new museum to be dedicated to oil fired lamps in the United States. Mr. Schreiber wrote extensively for The Mystic Light, the Aladdin Lamp newsletter, under the pen name, The Sage. He was a Kentucky Colonel and an Aladdin Knight. Mr. Schreiber was preceded in death by his parents, August William and Eunice Seyfarth Schreiber, two brothers Paul R. and Richard S. Schreiber, and a sister Lois Schreiber. He is survived by seven grand nieces and nephews, and nine great grand nieces and nephews. Graveside services and internment will be on Saturday, August 12, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at Mt. Greenwood Cemetery, 2900 West 111th Street, Chicago, Illinois. Friends are welcome. Memorials may be sent to the Blue Island Public Library.