William Laimbeer Sr. of Marco Island, FL died peacefully at his home on April 28, 2018. He was 83 years old. Bill, as he was known, was born November 5, 1934 in Columbus, Ohio to George and Doris (Bryan) Laimbeer and grew up in southern England. In 1956 he married Joan Waldon and moved to Oahu when Bill was stationed at the Marine Corps base in Kaneohe. Bill and Joan left Hawaii in 1957 and moved to Cambridge where Bill attended Harvard and their first child was born.
In 1959 Bill was hired by Owens-Illinois, Inc. as a Forest Products Division sales representative in Jacksonville, Florida. Thus began a long and distinguished career in the paper industry. In 1962 he was appointed sales manager of the Orlando office and two years later he was Manager of Product and Market Development for the division. From 1966 to 1971 he was assigned to the Chicago box plant where he served as sales manager before becoming general manager. He was promoted to general manager of the Los Angeles box plant in January 1971 and eventually the whole Pacific coast region. After returning to Toledo, OH in 1975, Bill was appointed a vice president of the division and general manager of all box operations. He was elected a VP in 1976 and named GM of the Forest Products Division in 1981. He was elected to the board of directors in 1984. He finished his career in the paper industry with executive positions at Great Northern Nekoosa Corp., Georgia Pacific and Stone Container after the sale of Owens-Illinois’ Forest Products division in 1987.
In retirement, Bill was actively involved in numerous charities that focused on education, establishing scholarship funds and building schools. He served on several charitable boards including Junior Achievement, RCMA, the Community Foundation, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and The Clery Foundation. He was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and participated in many of their charitable endeavors. He was recognized for his charitable work in 2010 when he was named a Southwest Florida Philanthropist of the Year.
In addition to his charity work, Bill will be remembered as a proud, devoted and vocal Democrat. Often the only Democrat amongst his friends and golfing buddies, Bill took great delight in stirring the pot, poking the bear and whatever it took to confuse and confound the enemy. He gave generously to female democratic candidates around the country and hoped to elect a woman president one day.
Bill is survived by Joan, his wife of 63 years, his brother Morgan, his son William Jr. and wife Chris, daughter Lee, daughter Susan and her husband Rich Ford, four grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Bill’s life is being planned for autumn on Marco Island in Florida. Condolences can be conveyed through the funeral home website at www.hodgesjosberger.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Greater Marco Island YMCA or the Island Country Club Charitable Foundation.
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