Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties

William B. 'Bill' Bruneau

KENOSHA, Wis. - William B. "Bill" Bruneau, 79, of Kenosha, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Born in Montreal, Wis., on July 22, 1937, he was the son of the late Bertrand and Catherine (Bogun) Bruneau. Raised and educated in northern Wisconsin, he was a graduate of Hurley High School.

Following graduation, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy on June 22, 1955, serving aboard the U.S.S. Fulton in New London, Conn. He received his honorable discharge on July 21, 1959.

On Dec. 21, 1958, in Niantic, Conn., Bill was united in marriage to Joyce Johnson. They were blessed with one son, David, and 38 years of marriage before Joyce passed away on March 28, 1997. Bill was blessed with a second chance at love when he met Patty Questard in 1998 and they spent the last 20 years together.

He was employed as an electrician with AMC-Chrysler for more than 42 years, retiring on March 31, 2002, and was a member of the UAW Local 72 Retirees.

Bill had a passion for fishing and recently took up playing Texas Hold 'Em. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan; he enjoyed riding his Harley and driving his Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. In his earlier years, he was active in pool and bowling leagues, and spent time at his home in Gile, Wis. Bill had an outgoing personality and was a self-proclaimed great joke teller, always keeping his hands active with home repairs and tinkering around the house. He also enjoyed growing vegetables in his garden, particularly tomato plants like his mother, Catherine Bruneau, did.

He will be deeply missed by his partner of 20 years, Patty Questard; his son, David (Vicki); a sister, Roxann Rasmuson; his granddaughter, Krista Bruneau; and his extended family, Peter (Diane) Mazur, Michelle Daoust, Kris (Greg) Hermanson, Jon (Michelle) Mazur, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother, Thomas Bruneau.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 3, at 11 a.m., at St. Mary's Cemetery.

Private inurnment will be held in Hurley at a later date.