J. William "Bill" Pistner

Bill was born August 23, 1935 in Dubois, PA to William and Dorothy McCarton Pistner. He attended St. Catherine's Catholic Schools in Clearfield before continuing his education at John Carroll Jesuit University Cleveland, OH. Bill graduated from John Carroll in 1957 with a degree in sociology and a commission in the Army Transportation Corps as a 2nd Lt. Following basic training at Fort Eustis, VA, Bill was assigned as an Army officer overseeing transportation on the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific where he participated in the Army's testing and observation program for atomic bombs. Bill later extended his service and was assigned as an officer in charge of transportation for the 5th Army Corp in Frankfurt, Germany. It was in Germany where he met his future wife, Margaret, who was also stationed in Frankfurt serving as an Occupational Therapist at the 97th Army Hospital. Bill and Margaret were married at St. Francis Catholic Church in Clearfield, PA on February 23, 1962. For thirty-three years they made their home and raised their children in Roanoke, Virginia. In Roanoke, Bill was employed at Dominion Bankshares as a Human Resource executive. After retiring from Dominion Bankshares, Bill continued his career at Virginia Tech University working as a Human Resource Specialist.

Bill was very active in the Roanoke community and served as a leader in several local organizations including, The Mental Health Association, Plowshares Peace Center, Junior Achievement, and Little League Baseball. Bill was also an active member of Our Lady of Nazareth Catholic Church serving on the parish board, as a lector, and as Eucharistic Minister.

In 1996 Bill and Margaret relocated to Greencastle, PA where Bill continued his community service serving on the board of the Franklin County Ageing Committee, the board of the Lillian S. Besore Memorial Free Library, and as a hospital volunteer at the Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, MD. While in Greencastle, Bill enjoyed The Institute for Retired Person(IRP) programs at Wilson College, Chambersburg, and gathering with the Atomic Veterans group at the local VFW.

Bill had a passion for reading and loved words and quotations. He found peace and tranquility in nature whether fly fishing in the trout stream in Northern Wisconsin or roaming the beaches of Wrightsville Beach, NC or Middlesex Beach, DE. Bill was also an avid fan of Virginia Tech and UVA (University of Virginia) basketball and football as well as a life-long fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Bill found great joy in the achievements and lives of his children and grandchildren. In addition to his wife, Margaret, he is survived by four children and eight grandchildren: Anne Pistner, of Chicago, IL; Michael Pistner, his wife Kristi and their children Katie, Jack and Matthew of Ellicott City, MD; Mary Jackson, her husband Kevin and their children Alex and Grace of Greencastle, PA; Bill Pistner, his wife Miranda and their children Charlie, Theo and Miles of Bloomfield Hills, MI.

There will be no viewing. The family welcomes friends and neighbors to visit and offer condolences at Bill and Margaret's home in Greencastle from 3:00--6:00pm on June 10, 2015. After which, all are invited for a "traditional" Irish Wake in celebration of Bill's great life at the John Allison Public House, 104 East Baltimore Street, Greencastle from 6:30--9: pm. Those wishing more information may contact the family. A Memorial Service will be held in Wausaukee, Wisconsin with interment in Athelstane, Wisconsin.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a charity of choice or an act of kindness towards others.

Arrangements by Cremation Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.