William (Bill) Frederick Weidenaar of Hilliard was born March 12, 1949, to Elkie and Calla (Nordenstrom) Weidenaar of Braham, Minnesota. He died on July 5, 2024, at the Fernandina Respite Care Center, Fernandina, Florida.
Bill walked to the one-room schoolhouse in Grass Lake Township for the first year of his elementary education. The school was a mile from the farm his parents brought him home to from the Kanabec County Hospital in Mora, MN. Bill’s mother often recalled the story of Bill walking home in the snow. His boot became stuck, and he slipped out of the boot and walked home without it. The one-room school closed and students from the little school were transferred to an elementary school in Grasston, MN. Bill graduated from Braham High School in 1967. Growing up on the farm, he had a lot of responsibility for helping with the cows and fieldwork.
Following high school, Bill worked at a gas station in Mora. He had a love for cars that endured his lifetime. The faster, the better. Bill also had the gift of conversation and was good at tending to customers at the station. He soon entered the United States Navy and served proudly from 1968-1972. Bill was stationed at the Jacksonville Naval Base and the Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia. He served on the USS John F. Kennedy aircraft carrier, considered a supercarrier.
Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Bill secured a job at the United States Postal Service. He took advantage of numerous opportunities for advancement and finished his career as the Jacksonville Airport Postal Service manager.
Bill was united in marriage to Sherry Thompson of Hilliard, Florida on August 14, 1995. Together they made their home outside of Hilliard next door to Bill’s parents, Elkie and Calla.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sherry, stepsons, Howell Randy Thompson (Kari) and Brian Thompson (Jamie), grandchildren, Elizabeth Thompson, Anthony Thompson, Avyen Thompson, Jaytin Thompson, Adeline Thompson, sisters, Teresa Hasbrook, Rush City, MN., Carol Brandt (Rick), Peoria, AZ., Becky Anderson, Braham, MN., many nieces and nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elkie and Calla Weidenaar, brother, Jon Weidenaar, nephew, Jason Boeck, and paternal and maternal grandparents.
God bless the memory of William (Bill) Frederick Weidenaar.