- Date Of Birth: May 22, 1945
- Date Of Death: September 08, 2021
- City: Grand Island
- State: Nebraska
Bill was born May 22, 1945, in Grand Island, Nebraska along with his twin sister, Barb where he grew up and attended school, graduating in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Navy in September of 1964, serving in Vietnam as a radio operator aboard the DLG-13 William V. Pratt until he was honorably discharged from naval service in September of 1968 at the rank of E-4, Petty Officer 3rd Class. Beginning his advanced education at McCook Community college, he later enrolled at Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating college, he became a licensed mortician and funeral director and was licensed in the state of Nebraska in 1973.
In Loup City, Ne with Pospisil Funeral Home, he started his 43-year career in the funeral industry assisting families all over Nebraska and Wyoming. He eventually retired in 2012 at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home in Sterling, Colorado after 18 years, then moving with his wife, Susan VanPelt to Fremont, Nebraska.
During Bill’s life he stayed a faithful servant of the community. Initiated in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Ord, Nebraska in 1974 and transferring to Grand Island lodge # 604 where he served as an Exalted Ruler from 1978-80. He Joined the Lions Association in 1990 and served as President in Sterling from 1999-2000. Bill was also a member of the VFW as well as the Loup City volunteer fire department while living in Loup City.
Bill was Christian and loved his church families, and the amazing people he met and called friends through the years.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his Wife, Sue VanPelt of Fremont, NE; Sisters, Barbara Moser of Fremont, NE, and Susan (Deane) Silver of Cambridgeport, VT; Sons, Eric VanPelt of Decula, GA, Joel (Amy) VanPelt of Grand Island, NE, and Benjamin (Rebecca) VanPelt of Fremont, NE; Grandchildren, Cody VanPelt of Grand Island, NE, Ryan VanPelt of Fremont, NE, Mason Sanders of Fremont, NE, Christopher Schulenberg of Montgomery, AL, Sydney VanPelt of Lincoln, NE, Aricka VanPelt of Lincoln, NE, Alex Ulmer of Grand Island, NE, and Jay (Ashlie) Tulk of Kearney, NE; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother and father, Normal L. VanPelt and Forrest “Shorty” L. VanPelt.
