William Pickerign

VISITATION:

4-7 p.m., Tuesday, January 5 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel & from 10-11 a.m., Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 201 W. Central St., Chippewa Falls

SERVICE:

11 a.m., Wednesday at Trinity United Methodist Church, 201 W. Central St., Chippewa Falls

William S. Pickerign, 83, of the town of Tilden, Chippewa Falls, passed away on Saturday, January 2, 2016 after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's.

He was born March 1, 1932 in Eau Galle, WI to Lila (Baskin) and Hiram S. Pickerign.After a term as State Future Farmers of America President, Bill graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School in 1950, and soon joined the U.S. Navy to serve in Japan during the Korean War. After returning home he earned a degree in agriculture from UW-River Falls.Bill married Nancy L. Davey of Eau Claire in 1957.

A job teaching Agriculture took the family to Blair before moving to Chippewa Falls in 1964 to begin a career in banking. This eventually led him to Northwestern Bank where he concluded his career as the bank president and was also honored to have served on the Board of Directors for the 9th Federal Reserve District.

In 1978, Bill began his return to the lifestyle he had been seeking since his youth when he and Nancy purchased a hobby farm in Tilden. This lead to many satisfying and happy years working the fields and tending to his cattle - a reflection of the way he felt caring for his family, the Bank, and the Chippewa Falls community throughout his life.

He will be dearly missed by his wife of 58 years, Nancy of Tilden; children, Cindy (Steve) Lee, twins, Lori (Gerry) Artz; Lynn (Steve) Elbert, all of Chippewa Falls; sons, Kent (Chris) Pickerign of Cornell, and Kirt (Stacy) Pickerign of Chippewa Falls; grandchildren, Michael and Ben Lee, Garrick, Mitchell and Hannah Artz, Andrew (Katie) Elbert, Jake Elbert and Zach (Claire) Elbert, Sam and Abbie Pickerign, Parker and Mac Pickerign; great-grandchildren, Gabriella, Jeremiah and Adelynn Elbert; a sister, Carol (Joe) Ringeisen; sisters-in-law, Shirley Pickerign and Sally (Gus) Carlson; brothers-in-law, Hubert Fischer, Norm McMahon, and Ray Helgerson; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a brother, Joe Pickerign; three sisters, Irene Fischer, Maxine McMahon and Lilene Helgerson; a daughter-in-law, Elly Mae Pickerign; and three grandchildren, William S., Alexis and Natalie Pickerign.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 6 at Trinity United Methodist Church, Chippewa Falls with Rev. Terri Koca officiating. Interment with military honors conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council will follow the service at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m., Tuesday at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, Chippewa Falls and one hour prior to the service Wednesday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the WANE Fund, a foundation started in memory of William, Alexis, Natalie and Elly Pickerign to support Fire Prevention, c/o the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, PO Box 153, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.