William "Bill" Mackie

William (Bill) was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on December 16, 1930, the first of three sons to Arvo and Lois Mackie; his brothers Richard and Peter are both deceased. The family lived in Milwaukee until 1942 when they moved to Whitewater, WI. and where he attended Whitewater High School. During that time he was active in the Boy Scout program and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. After graduation Bill joined the Navy in May of 1950, just prior to the Korean War where he served until 1954. While at boot camp, he was voted Honor Man and was the Battalion Clerk. He then attended the Electronic Technician School at Great Lakes for the next nine months and after graduation, was ordered to his ship, the USS Everglades for the remainder of his tour of duty which included a Mediterranean cruise.

After being discharged, Bill attended the State College in Whitewater for one year, and then transferred to the University of Wisconsin at Madison, where he graduated with a BSEE degree. His first job was with the Remington Rand Univac Company in Utica, NY where he attended class on maintenance of the Univac File Computer for three months, then was transferred to El Segundo, CA.

He remained there for another nine months then joined The Collins Radio Company where he worked until he retired in January, 1991. During his retirement, he delivered Meals-on Wheels for 22 (?) years, and served for 18 years on the Colony Community Association Board of directors where he lived.

Bill had two children by a previous marriage, Stephanie (Mills), and Craig. Through friends, Bill was introduced to Myrna Ruedy who he married on July 9, 1983. She was the love and treasure of his life. They were married for 27 years, 3 days when she died of Pancreatic Cancer.

During those years, they traveled both in and out of the country, but also enjoyed many trips to Catalina and along the Newport Beach coast on their sailboat, the Getaway. Most summer vacations saw them driving to Wisconsin to visit family and friends, including his brother Richard and family at their cottage in the north woods. They also visited England, Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Egypt, (for the company) Israel, Finland, Estonia, Ukraine, Russia, and China. They traveled to Costa Rica for two short-term-team missions with their church.

He was a devoted member of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Orange, CA where he was nominated for deacon and served two terms, then as an elder, where he was on session for one term.

Bill is survived by his two children, Stephanie (Greg Mills) and Craig, and Myrna’s children, Lynne (Ruedy) Keys, Scott Ruedy and Brian Ruedy. Also, 15 grandchildren: Sydney and Cooper, (Stephanie/Greg); Evan, Chad, Emma, Cate, (Craig); Michelle, Aaron, Shannon, (Lynne/Jim); Kaleo, Ua, Kaulana, Kawaii, (Scott/Shulin); Graysen, Kaelan, (Brian/Monica) and 4 great grandchildren, Wyatt, Emmet, Warren and Toanui Ka’eo.