ÃÛÌÒÇéÈË

George L. Westenberger III, 75, of Jacksonville, died on April 29, 2024, at his home surrounded by family. His death was caused by complications from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia.

George was born on October 30, 1948, in Springfield, the son of George L. Westenberger, Jr. and Mary Margaret Dagon Westenberger.

George married Mary Alderman and together they had two children, Mark Charles Westenberger and Ashley Rose Westenberger, both of Jacksonville. They later divorced, and George married Mary Catherine Ring in 1987. Throughout his life George remained a loving and supportive father to Mark and Ashley.

George graduated from Griffin High School in Springfield in 1968. During high school he obtained his amateur radio license, with his lightning-quick Morse Code key skills a harbinger of what would later become fleet-fingered exploits on guitars, basses, and Monroe adding machines. He thereafter attended the University of Illinois in Champaign/Urbana, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy and a Master of Accounting Science degree. He was a certified public accountant and practiced in Jacksonville for 40 plus years, both independently and in local accounting firms. He also taught various accounting and auditing courses at the University of Illinois Springfield and at Illinois College in Jacksonville.

Throughout his career George was involved with multiple human services organizations, serving as a board member and officer. He was especially devoted to Habitat for Humanity, Pathway Services, and The Alvin Eades Center. He was also passionate about environmental protection and was one of the founding members of S.E.E.D. Inc. (Society for Environmental and Educational Development).

George was a gifted musician. In high school he joined his first band, Beau Geste, some members of which still perform in the Springfield area. He went on to play guitar and bass in several other bands during his life, developing a particular talent for the technical aspects of instruments—and a penchant for collecting them, along with amplifiers and other related gizmos. He was also recognized as a knowledgeable collector of WWI and WWII weaponry, especially Mausers.

George and his wife Mary operated Westring Sound and Lighting for many years, providing sound reinforcement for many local community events, multiple jazz and blues festivals in Springfield, and the First Night Springfield event for its first dozen or more years. George and Mary also enjoyed riding motorcycles and owned multiple BMWs. They traveled cross country for many years, until George was sidelined by his health.

George was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Agnes Albers; and brother-in-law, Edward Wellman, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Catherine Ring, of Jacksonville; two children, Mark Charles Westenberger and Ashley Rose Westenberger, also of Jacksonville; four siblings, John Westenberger of Springfield, Anne Wellman of Firestone, Colorado, Janet (husband, Joe) Vespa of Springfield, and Richard (wife, Betsy) Westenberger of Atlanta, Georgia; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins.

The family expresses its appreciation to the Cass-Schuyler Area Hospice nurses for their exceptional care of George in his final days.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 3, 2024, at Williamson Funeral Home at 1405 Lincoln Avenue in Jacksonville. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 4, 2024, also at Williamson Funeral Home, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in Diamond Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation () or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (). Condolences may be sent to the family at