January 14, 1938 – January 2, 2024
It is with profound sadness and heaviness of heart that we announce the passing of a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend. After a lengthy battle with cancer, Bill passed away peacefully at home into the arms of the Lord with his family by his side.
Devoted husband of Annette ‘Anne’ (nee Patterson) for 65 years. Loving father to Deborah (Peter), Marienne (Robert), Karen, Brian (Connie), Pam (Pat) and Sara (Roy). Grandfather to Renee, Holly, Jessica, Chantelle, Joshua, Ryan, Matthew, David, Daniel, Stacey, Lindsey, Celeste, and Kiersten. Great grandfather to Danayka, Jayla, Mason, Cruz, Lincoln, Seraya, Caile, Axel, Aaliyah, Cooper, Cole, and Adelyn. Beloved brother to Judy. Predeceased by his sister Shirley, mother Evelyn, father Leonard, loving father-in-law Frank and mother-in-law Joy.
At the young age of 15, Bill began working in the bush skidding logs using work horses in the Goulais River area. In 1957 he moved to Brights Grove, Ontario to live with his grandmother where he worked at Gerry Webster’s garage for four years gaining valuable knowledge and a skill set which served him well throughout his life.
While in Brights Grove, he met the love of his life and future wife, Anne. They married November 14, 1958, and moved to the Haviland Bay area in 1960 with their baby girl in tow.
Bill worked for a time on the construction of Highway 17 just north of Goulais River, as well as in the Algoma Steel Tube Mill. In the summer of 1960, Bill and Anne purchased a piece of land on the Old Highway 17, now Highway 552 East. With their own blood, sweat, and tears they independently cleared the land and built their family home. Over the years, as their family grew, so did the home by many additions done by themselves.
In 1957 Bill first started his career with the then called Department of Environment, Sea Lamprey Control Centre. In 1962 he became an indeterminate employee, working in various capacities wherever he was needed with the Barriers Program (then called Fisheries Research Board, Sea Lamprey Control Program) purchasing and receiving department until his retirement with 35 years of service in 2002.
Although Bill was hardworking, dependable, and dedicated to his job, he still made time to enjoy many of his hobbies including: photography, art, music, playing his guitar, singing and humming, travelling, fishing, hunting and woodworking. He completed a home study program for television and radio electronic repair fixing numerous ones throughout the years. Bill also gained solace by being in nature – walking, hiking, camping, talking with people and offering his wise counsel when asked, and spending time with the Lord through prayer, devotions, reading his bible and worshiping the Lord, whom he loved dearly; he was a strong man of faith.
Bill spent many, many hours in his garage fixing whatever needed to be fixed, as he was considered a “Jack of all trades”. He was always ready to lend a helping hand to whoever needed one.
Bill gave back to his community throughout the years by volunteering for Telecare, a mental wellness telephone counselling service as a lay counsellor, helping those with mental health difficulties. For many years, Bill gave of himself in his local church doing various jobs and holding various positions such as worship leader, leading music, greeting people, Sunday School teacher, church bus driver, praying with ones who requested it, preaching sermons as needed and maintaining the church building.
In addition, Bill and Anne opened their home to children in need as foster parents officially with the Children’s Aid Society for approximately eight years and out of compassion, their home was a safe haven for those who needed it.
During Bills retirement years, he was able to spend more time enjoying his hobbies as listed above, more time in his garage, and spending more quality time with his darling Anne and his family, whom he loved deeply.
He invested much of himself and gave his all in whatever he put his hand to. No job was left undone.
Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215. St. James St, SSM) from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm followed by a service at 3:15 pm in the chapel with Pastor Kevin Bishop officiating. All are welcome. Cremation will follow and a private family inurnment will take place at a later date.
Heartfelt thank you to all of Bill’s health care team: Dr. Pearce, Dr. Kolarski, Dr. Saunders of NorthEast Cancer Clinic, Dr. Spadafore, Dr. Booth, Oncology nurses of Algoma District Cancer Program in the Sault Area Hospital and Emergency Room physicians at the Sault Area Hospital. Special thank you for the compassionate care from the home care nurses: Livia and Sierra from Paramed and Nancy from Bayshore. Also, a special thank you to the numerous departments who helped navigate Bill through his cancer journey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations would be appreciated to ARCH https://www.archhospice.ca/ or the Sault Area Hospital Foundation Cancer Care Fund https://www.sahfoundation.com/donate (payable online or by cheque).
Visit www.osullivanfuneralhome.com. to leave condolences for the family. Arrangements entrusted to O’Sullivan Funeral Home (215 St. James St., Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 1P7, 705-759-9456).