William George Runde

Bill is survived by his daughter Dawn (Brian) Duplak of Pompano Beach; his son Jeffery (Michelle) Runde of Pompano Beach and his son Daniel George Runde of Vancouver, Washington. He is also survived by daughter-in-law Judy Runde; grandchildren Michael, Kimberly and Robert Duplak, William and Michael Runde, Joshua and Grace Runde, and Genys Runde; and great-grandson Douglas Jett Capen. He is survived by his brother Robert (Andrea) Runde of Bristol, Wisconsin, his sister Carol Runde, of Racine, Wisconsin; sister-in-laws Sue E. Jones of Kenosha, Wisconsin and Sue E. Runde of Clinton Township, Michigan; four nieces and one nephew.

He is preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth (Betty) Jones of Pompano Beach; his son Michael Runde of Coral Springs, Florida; his parents, George and Marion Runde of Kenosha, Wisconsin; and his brother Timothy Runde of Clinton Township, Michigan.

Bill was born on March 28, 1938, in Kenosha, Wisconsin to parents George Kersten Runde and Marion Elizabeth Neu. He graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1956. In 1958, he was employed by Sunbeam Electronics as a draftsman and designer. In 1964, the company moved to Fort Lauderdale, and the Runde family moved, too.

In 1967 he was a Volunteer Fireman for the South Pompano Beach Volunteer Fire Department. He was also the departments secretary and used a mimeograph machine, which gave him his first idea for printing.

In 1970, Bill’s life was changed, as he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. God led him to start Commercial Printers, Inc., which continues today. On the wall of the front office, it says, “To God Be the Glory” and that’s what Bill strived to do.

He married Betty, September 5, 1959. Together, they had four children before the business was started, and all the children eventually became employees of the family business.

Bill joined Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in 1970, where he served for many years as an Elder and on various committees. Bill led Bible studies at his home and joined the Evangelism Explosion program to share his faith in God with anyone he met. His favorite song was “I Love to Tell the Story,” and he lived to tell the story of God’s love. In recent years, every paramedic, EMT or fireman that came to the house was given one of dad’s testimonial booklets.

In the 1980’s Bill began to take some time to enjoy the hobby of bass fishing. He was a member of the South Florida Bass Pros. He participated in fishing tournaments many times and was an excellent fisherman. He also helped with kids' fishing tournaments, and loved teaching and encouraging kids of all ages to learn to fish. This hobby lasted the rest of his life, as he continued to enjoy fishing in his backyard and teaching others to fish.

Bill will be remembered as a man that loved his family and provided for them, and a man that loved the Lord and wanted to share that with everyone he met.

A funeral is scheduled for Sunday, October 1 at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Visitation will be from 3-4pm, with service at 4pm. Andrew Siegenthaler will officiate. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bill’s life.

In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest gifts be made to Samaritan’s Purse, samaritanspurse.org.