Aug. 25, 1925 – Dec. 21, 2009

    William F. "Bill" Roberts of Oconomowoc passed away peacefully, surrounded by family Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at Waukesha Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 25, 1925 in Milwaukee, the son of Frank and Florence (Harrington) Roberts.
    Bill grew up in Milwaukee, Montreal and Knoxville, Tenn. He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Rim, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946. He was reactivated for the Korean War, again receiving an honorable discharge in 1954. Bill served on the USS Finch and enjoyed reacquainting himself with fellow shipmates and those who served on the USS Finch in later years, at the annual reunions.
    Bill joined Allis-Chalmers after college, and later moved to Sentry Equipment. He finished his career with GE – Medical Systems. While at GE, he was inducted into the Elfun Society, a volunteer organization of GE leaders, where he received the New Elfun of the Year award in the late 1970s and the Senior Elfun of the Year award for 1998-1999.
    Bill was a member of St. Joan of Arc parish where, with his wife, June, he started the CCD program for grade school and high school students and served as an usher for almost 50 years. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Oconomowoc, serving as president from 1992 to 1993. His commitment to volunteerism was reflected in his many years of service with Meals on Wheels, volunteering at Waukesha County Technical College in the Learning in Retirement program teaching genealogy and then at the GE campus, teaching retired GE employees computer skills.
    Bill was active in local government from the time he relocated back to Oconomowoc. In the late ’50s, he was on several boards for the town of Oconomowoc and then was instrumental in the establishment of the Village of Oconomowoc Lake, serving as village president from 1971 to 1989 and again from 1993 to 1995.
    Bill was preceded in death by his son Brian, his parents and his son-in-law Walter Beverung. Bill will be missed by June, his wife of 55 years; his children Anne Marie Beverung of Oconomowoc, Colleen of Oak Park, IL, Deborah (Joseph) Misanin of Great Falls, Va., Eric (Melanie) of Milwaukee, Felice of Oconomowoc, and Gwynne of Pewaukee; his grandchildren William (Will) Beverung, Benjamin (Benji), Rebecca (Becki) and Elizabeth (Buffy) Misanin, and Caroline and Chloe Roberts; his twin sister, Catherine (Katie) O’Neil, of North Riverside, Ill., his brother, Robert (Liz) of Savannah, Ga., and many other relatives.
    He will be deeply missed by his friends and forever missed by his family.
    Visitation services will be held at St. Joan of Arc in Nashotah, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Dec. 29, and from 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 30, with funeral Mass immediately following.
    In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the St. Joan of Arc Matching Fund.
    Pagenkopf Funeral Home, 1165 Summit Ave., Oconomowoc, is serving the family. For more information, please call the funeral home at 567-4457 or visit online at www.pagenkopf. com.