In his earlier life, he served his country bravely in the Vietnam War with the 1st Marine Division.
After retiring, Bill spent a lot of time going on adventures with his son, William, daughter in law, Jamie and grandchildren Eric, Alexis, Olivia, and Vic.
Nascar races, Father’s Day trips to Comerica Park and paddle boating in the metro parks were but a few ways that he spent his golden years.
Bill was blessed, in life, to have met a woman, Joan Loraine Schokaert, who would give him three children, William, Lisa, and Kelly and would remain his faithful soulmate for 47 years until she was called back to her heavenly home in 2018.
All who knew “Uncle Bill” or “Mister G” or “Papa” would say the same thing: that he was (and is) a good man. That he would do whatever he could to help you or say a kind word or do a kind gesture.
These repeated stories of kind words and gestures help me see a legacy left behind by someone who genuinely loved and cared for others…and was loved and cared for in kind.
Thank you all for loving my father.
