On March 11, 1957, Bruce Allen Fasol was born to Pearl (Filkins) Fasol and Delio Fasol at the Franklin Hospital in Benton. On January 16, 2015 he went to be with the Lord. Fasol was born with only a small portion of his heart working, however he served to prove over the next 57 years that his heart for family, community and Redbird Sports was more than fully active. Fasol held many titles and wore many figurative hats in his life, but none was more precious to him than being called Poppa. He was the grandfather to Zakkary and Isabella Chambers, 4 years old, Sophia, 10 months old and Bre’Anna, 3 years old, all of West Frankfort. Fasol called his grandkids, "Poppa’s Army" with pride. He had two daughters and one son-in-law, Tara Fasol-Chambers and husband Dave Chambers and Sara Fasol, all from West Frankfort. Fasol served as the voice of the West Frankfort Redbirds in his beloved Max Morris Gymnasium for over 40 years, broadcasting more than 4,000 games. He was a member of the Illinois Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame and recipient of awards such as the Broadcast Achievement Award, Liberty Bell Award, IHSA Distinguished Media Service Award, Outstanding Club Leadership Award from Key Club International, Merle-Jones Lifetime Achievement Award, Tom McKie Achievement Award and many others. In 2000, Fasol was named as the Citizen of the Year for not only his work in West Frankfort Athletics but also his dedication to community. Fasol created, led and assisted with dozens upon dozens of charity and community programs and organizations. He launched the Emergency Tele-Medicine committee to help bring more advanced medical services to Southern Illinois. Fasol was instrumental in the planning of hundreds of community projects. Perhaps his most prized project was a coat program which he started in 2003 with his longtime broadcast partner and best friend Rick Westermeier. Fasol collected and housed donated coats all year and made them available free to anyone in need after seeing children leaving school without coats. Fasol lived to love his family, community and West Frankfort Redbirds and he did it well. He is preceded in death by his mother Pearl Fasol, Father Delio Fasol, step-mother Jesse Fasol and sister Carole (Fasol) Hood. He is remembered by brother Al Fasol and wife Beverly, of Texas and their children and grandchildren, as well as a cousin whom he thought of as a little brother, Michael Bret Hood and his wife Nancy and daughter.Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at MaxMorris Gymnasium in West Frankfort at 2:00p.m. with his brother Al Fasol officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at Union Funeral Home - West Frankfort, Illinois from 5:00-8:00p.m. and Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 12:00noon-2:00p.m. in the Max Morris Gymnasium prior to the service. There will be a private burial immediately following the service in Denning Cemetery on the Orient Road.