William “Bill” Leser

William Alfred Leser, 67, of Freeport, Illinois, passed away on Saturday, July 31, 2021, in his home. Bro. William was born in Freeport, Long Island, New York, on September 27, 1953, the son of William J. and Shirley (Vooris) Leser. He served his country in the United States Air Force during Vietnam as a cryptographer. William attended Western Connecticut State College where he graduated with a degree in Chemistry. He was an electrical engineer and also worked as a computer programmer.

He was very active with local groups and was a Past Master of the Masonic Evergreen Lodge NO. 170. He was also a Knights Templar with the York Rite and a 32nd Degree / MSA Mason with the Scottish Rite. William was a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) and National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI) master SCUBA instructor and a member of the Emergency Services Disaster Agency, Rolling Meadows, Illinois.
On November 16, 2009 William Leser petitioned Evergreen Lodge #170 in Freeport, IL, was initiated December 7, 2009, passed to the degree of Fellowcraft on February 15, 2010, and raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on April 6, 2010. He served in several positions in Evergreen Lodge being elected to the position Worshipful Master 2013 and 2014, and then becoming secretary in 2020 until his passing in 2021.
Brother Leser joined Scottish Rite in Freeport in 2010, served officer positions in the Lodge of Perfection including Thrice Potent Master, and then moved to the Consistory line where he was First Lieutenant Commander at the time of his death. During his time in Scottish Rite he was elected to receive the Meritorious Service Award in 2018, and extensively studied Masonic degrees, wrote several papers on degree backgrounds, and on September 9, 2018 received membership in the Hauts Grades Academy, a prestigious organization of Masonic scholars studying Masonic education and knowledge. Bro. Bill Leser joined the Free Masons Riding Club on June 5, 2013.