The second oldest of 14 children, born to Maude and LeRoy Stoflet, Bill was raised in Spring Prairie and lived the remainder of his life in East Troy.
A graduate of Elkhorn High School, he excelled in baseball and Golden Gloves Boxing. After high school he worked in his father’s paving business before starting his own company with his brother and brother-in-law.
Bill took great pride in being an honest and fair businessperson and providing quality work. He owned and operated Nu-Road Paving for 19 years. After that he sold real estate, and in later years he enjoyed selling advertising novelties, often creating a humorous slogan relative to the respective business.
Bill loved to make people laugh, and he never forgot a joke. He especially loved puns, and the bigger the “groaner,” the more he enjoyed it. He was a member of Toast Masters, the Masonic Lodge and he enjoyed public speaking. He emceed the majority of his class reunions and taught public speaking at Gateway Technical Institute. He wanted others to enjoy public speaking as much as he did.
A life-long proselytizer of fitness, Bill was an avid golfer, skier, ice skater, Rollerblader, runner and hiker. He enjoyed yearly trips to the Sierras, where he shared his love of skiing with his grandsons. At least once each summer, he walked the shore path around Geneva Lake. He made his last full shore path walk at the age of 79 with his daughter and grandsons.
The Kettle Moraine trails were another favorite hiking spot. He and his wife, Judy, enjoyed many road trips together, and they especially loved touring the national parks. Bill was an avid morel hunter, and every May, during the short season, he left early each morning to procure the delicacy to share with friends.
Bill is survived by Julia (Judy), his loving wife of 69 years; daughter, Heidi (Tim) Kilpin; grandsons, Jordan (Natsuki Atagi) and Peter Kilpin; great granddaughter, Mina Atagi-Kilpin; sister, Donna Newhouse (Jim) and many nieces and nephews.
Heartfelt thanks to the entire Sawyers Family –Tracey, Howie, Zach, and Jacob – for their professional care, dedication, guidance and loving support and to Tracey for curating the best care team anywhere. Bill’s family is eternally grateful for the loving care provided by Joyce Tueting, Bailey Tueting, Carmen del Castillo, Michelle de la Paz, Fikreta Marjanovic, and Catthy Velasquez. Thanks to each and every one of you for making Bill and Judy part of your families and for becoming part of ours.
Special thanks to Gary Buchek for being such a dear friend to Bill, providing him weekly outings and the chance to remain part of the community.
One of Bill’s final wishes was for his tombstone epitaph to read, “I told you I was sick.” The family is mulling it over.
