The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


Meet Your Neighbor

by Susan Galbraith-Quill Reporter

Meet Your Neighbor Denise Wilson, a resident of Stronghurst since 1984 when she and husband, Bill, moved from Minier.

Denise and Bill are owners of Wilson and Associates Insurance in Stronghurst.

She met husband, Bill of 27 years, at Celina Insurance Group in Peoria where they were both employed.

When they heard of an insurance business that was for sale, they traveled to Stronghurst to check it out. Bill and Denise decided it looked like a community they could come to love.

They made the decision to buy the insurance company, from previous owner, Charlie Johnson.

Denise is also bookkeeper for Greater Midstates Insurance Agency, Inc..

Great Midstates Insurance is an insurance cluster that has 80 agencies throughout 5 states that write policies throughout their markets.

When they made the decision to buy the business Denise said, "Lorraine Peterson was part of the deal. She has been here for 27 years and they couldn't do without her".

Denise was born in Peoria and raised in Pekin.

In 1978 she graduated from Pekin Community High School and from Western Illinois University, in Macomb, in 2007, with a bachelor of science in history.

They have one son, Christopher (22) who recently graduated, Summa Cum Laude, with a 3.98 GPA.

Chris received his Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Valpariso College, in Indiana.

Denise said, "From pre-school all the way through college Chris never had less than an A-".

His future plans are to attend the University of Oklahoma, in August, and pursue a masters degree. He won a fellowship from the Meteorology Society to do research.

The family are members of the Stronghurst Christian Church.

Denise is a member of the Turning Pages Book Club, and an avid Cubs fan. In fact she said, "I was raised in a Cubs family of parents, grandparents and great grandparents".

She also loves to walk and you will probably see her walking her 2.2 miles each day, unless it rains! She also enjoys all TV sports.

Her mother, Connie Ercegovich lives in Pekin. Her father, Joseph, and wife Audrey, live in Sun City Center, Florida.

She has one brother, Michael, who resides in Pekin.

When Chris was younger she and Bill always attended all of their sons sports activities.

In junior high Chris participated in track, basketball and baseball and in high school football, basketball and baseball. His sports schedules kept them very busy!

Along with the insurance business they also own the House of Carmen which is housed in the same location as their insurance business. House of Carmen was named after Denise's grandmother.

Denise said, "We have antiques, new merchandise and all kinds of treasures."