- Date Of Death: May 21, 2017
- State: Michigan
Escanaba, MI
William “Bill” Woodbury, 69, of Escanaba, was welcomed into Heaven on May 21, 2017 after his 4-month courageous fight with brain cancer.
Bill was born July 25, 1947 to Lewis and Claire (Houle) Woodbury Sr. in Worcester, MA. He graduated in 1965 from David Prouty High School and enlisted into the United States Air Force. Bill was sent to Vietnam during the war where he worked as a mechanic. He was honorably discharged in 1969 as a Sgt.
Bill met the love of his life, Jeanne Kay Krause while he was stationed in New York in 1969. Bill and Jeanne were united in marriage on April 17, 1971. They built their first home together in Ford River. Side by side, they were a team. They welcomed 3 children into their lives, Patti Louise, Constance Marie and Kenneth Michael.
Bill was a hardworking man, a perfectionist. He’d say “If you’re going to do a job, do it right, or don’t do it at all.” “Measure twice, cut once.” He worked in Auto Body Repair for 34 years. Working for and owning Woodbury Collision, side by side with his beautiful wife. After closing the body shop, Bill and Jeanne did general contracting for 10 years until he retired in 2006. For the past 11 seasons, Jeanne and Bill would escape our frigid winters and head down to South Texas. He loved their many friends they met in Texas and especially loved the heat.
When back in Michigan, Bill and Jeanne loved to spend time at the family camp. Riding his 4-wheeler, working on whatever projects he could get his hands into made him happy. “Working at camp was never work.” He enjoyed feeding the deer, watching the birds and looking for animal prints. He was truly the most content at camp.
Bill was so incredibly proud of and loved his children. He would boast to anybody that would listen about Patti, Connie and Ken. He was so happy to help them with their home repairs, remodels and really anything he could do for, or with them.
The twinkle in is eye were his 4 grandchildren, Courtney Walter Bauman, Breanna Johnson, Brittany Mileski and Bryan Mileski. It never mattered what they did, time with his grandkids meant the world to him.
Bill was a member of the American Legion, V.F.W., D.A.V. and Cruising Classics. He was a founding member and former Fire Chief of the Ford River Volunteer Fire Department. He also formed the training program for firefighters at Bay College.
In addition to his wife of 46 years, Jeanne Kay, survivors include, children, Patti Johnson of Green Bay, WI, Connie Mileski of Grand Rapids, MI, and Ken (Katherine) Woodbury of Escanaba. Grandchildren, Courtney (Walter) Bauman and Breanna Johnson of Green Bay, WI and Brittany and Bryan Mileski of Grand Rapids, MI. Brother, James (Sherill) Woodbury and sister Sandra (Robert) Lekstrom and mother/father in-law, Ralph and Theresa Krause of Ford River. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
His parents, Lewis and Claire Woodbury Sr, preceded Bill in death.
