Willam Wallish

Although his life was filled with many things he enjoyed, nothing was closer to the heart of William Wallish than his family. He was a dedicated family man who not only worked hard for his family, but played hard right alongside his children. Bill loved being at home more than anywhere else in the world, and his basement filled with its intricate trains and models of all shapes and sizes was the envy of fellow train enthusiasts to be sure. As his friends and family now say goodbye, they are so grateful for having been loved by such a remarkable man. With the dawn of the 1920s, America was going places we had never been. The end of WWI left us recognized as a world leader and we made the most of setting the pace. It was in 1924 that two of our Army planes made the first round-the-world flight, and our mail took to the skies as well as airmail services began during this same year. This was a year of great significance for one young couple from Berwyn, Illinois, since they were overjoyed to announce the healthy birth of their son on July 23rd. William Clarence was ushered into the world by his adoring parents, William and Mary (Jelinek) Wallish, and was the oldest of three boys in his family including his brothers George and Edward. His father worked in building maintenance for local apartment complexes while his mother was a busy homemaker who also worked as a cook at the Fountain Inn Restaurant that was owned by a family member. William was of Czechoslovakian descent and his heritage was a very real part of his life as the Wallishes lived in a Chicago suburb that was heavily populated with other Czechoslovakian families. Bill enjoyed many of their traditional Czechoslovakian dishes and it was as a young boy that he learned to love potato pancakes. In many ways, Bill experienced a childhood that was rather typical for the youth of this generation. He attended local schools and enjoyed playing a lively game of baseball with the neighborhood kids and his bothers. As a teenager he waited tables at the restaurant with his mother, instilling within Bill a strong work ethic. After graduating from high school Bill joined the Army. He rode across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary and was stationed in France. As a soldier Bill was with a medical division, but his duties also included guarding prisoners of war. Luckily he didnt ever see any fighting and his time in France, including trips to Paris, became memories he fondly spoke of for years to come. With his duty to his country fulfilled, Bill returned home to Berwyn where he found work in a local hardware store and also at a gas station. It was the gas station that provided the backdrop for Bills introduction to the woman of his dreams. Her name was Joan Wilcox and he couldnt help but notice her as she walked past the station one day. He told his buddy that he was going to marry that girl and not long after they officially met, the young couple found themselves deeply in love. They married on October 23, 1948, in Berwyn. Initially the couple lived with Bills parents and it was while living there that they welcomed the birth of their first child, Robert, in 1950. In the early fifties the family of three moved to Grand Haven, Michigan, since some family members had found steady work there. In 1953 their family grew to include their daughter, Nancy. Bill found work as a machinist for Keller Tool, which later became Gardner Denver. He remained there for the rest of his career, eventually moving up to quality control. Bills work there spanned 32 years until he retired when they left town. While Bill was busy building his career, their family was completed with the birth of Betty in 1964. After living in a couple of different houses in the Grand Haven area, they finally settled into a house on Taylor that Bill called home throughout the majority of his life. He loved being at home and was constantly tinkering around with something. Bill could fix nearly anything and always had at least one project going on. Fun-filled family times were spent in their above ground pool in the backyard. Bill often played out there with the kids, and he also had many friends and neighborhood kids over to enjoy the pool, too. Later in life Bills grandchildren loved spending time in the pool as well. There were also unforgettable family outings to a lodge on Twin Lake where they held family reunions for many years. There was always plenty of room in Bills life for the things he enjoyed. He was a model train enthusiast whose basement was dedicated to his trains. Bill spent countless hours building the sets to showcase his trains that came in all gauges and sizes, especially during his retirement years. He even built a Ferris wheel out of an erector set on one occasion. Bill and Joan loved socializing with neighbors and since Bill liked to eat, he always made sure his visitors never left hungry either. Later in life Bill began having health issues that led to a knee replacement. Unfortunately he wasnt very diligent with his therapy which caused him to become less mobile. Eventually Bill needed a wheelchair to get around. Joan cared for him as best she could but after a few falls, it was clear that he needed more care than she could provide. The next seven years found Bill living in several different nursing homes. He tried to make the best of it but since his heart longed to be at home where he could spend time with his trains and working on projects, he could get a bit cranky at times. Bill always looked forward to the visits from his daughter, Betty, not only for her company, but also because she always brought his favorite potato pancakes. Throughout his life, William Wallish focused his time on what truly mattered to him loving the family he viewed as a priceless gift. He was fun-loving and in some ways a true kid at heart. Although life was not always easy for him, Bill took everything in stride and did his best to embrace all that life has to offer. The memories he leaves behind will be forever held near and dear to the hearts of his friends and loved ones. Bill will be deeply missed. William C. Wallish died on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Bills family includes his wife, Joan; son, Robert Wallish of CA; daughters, Nancy Wallish of Jenison, Betty (Tim) Strom of Grand Haven; grandchildren, Laura & Leslie Mieczkowski, Anna & Adam Strom. Bill was preceded in death by brothers, George & Ed Wallish. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at the Clock Chapel-Grand Haven. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.