Obit: Bates, William Allen (1933 - 2011)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

 

Surnames: Bates, Green, Biller, Eckes, LaBonte, Bursey, Johnson, Murphy, Carlson, Coffman, Strom, Robertson, McDowell, Foster, Sokolowski, McDonald, Waite, Blomberg 

 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) October 5, 2011

 

Bates, William Allen (2 July 1933 - 26 September 2011)

 

William Allen Bates, Sr., 78, of Bruce, died of cancer Monday, Sept. 26, 2011, at the Rusk County Nursing Home in Ladysmith.

 

William was born July 2, 1933, in Neillsville to Vance and Lois (Green) Bates.  William lived for 30 years in Hayward and came to Rusk County in October of 1989.

 

He married Gloria "Vonnie" Biller in Eau Claire July 21, 1979.  Bill owned and operated five businesses in the past 30 years.  He was affiliated with the Moose Lodge.

 

Bill is survived by his wife, Vonnie of Bruce; mother, Lois Bates of Black River Falls; three sons, William A. Bates, Jr. (wife Dana) of Hayward, Vance Bates (wife Deb) of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Bradley Bates (wife Missy) of Winter; four daughters, Julie Eckes (husband Ralph) of Hayward, Barbara LaBonte (husband Jim) of Hayward, Marty Bursey (husband Kenny) of Nevada, TZ, and Marybeth Bates of Hayward; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Vance Bates (wife Judy) of Merrillan; two sisters: Virginia Johnson and Betty Murphy, both of Merrillan; three step-children, Deborah Carlson (husband Russ), Valerie Coffman (husband Michael), John (wife Marce) Strom; and one step granddaughter, Katie (husband Ian) Robertson.

 

He was preceded in death by his father Vance, and one son, Jeffrey Bates.

 

Bill never met a stranger. He loved people and always remembered their name.  He was a hard worker and loved his work.  He loved his wife and his family. Bill had many friends, and he was always willing to help them if they needed him.  He will be sadly missed.  He was so sick, but he rests now.

 

Honorary pallbearers were: Ralph Eckes, Jim LaBonte, Ken Bursey, Mac McDowell, Frank Foster, Rich Sokolowski, Bob McDonald and Lloyd Waite.

 

Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011, at noon at Zion Lutheran Church in Winter with Pastor Terri Blomberg officiating.

 

Nash-Jackan Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

 

 


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