Bill D Wuerfel

William (Bill) Dolph Wuerfel, 86, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2017 at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff, WI after many years of struggling with Frontotemporal Dementia. He is survived by Peggy, his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, whom he met in high school; his daughters Jane Stevenson (Todd), Cathy Castle (John), Sharon Grossmann (Al); grandchildren Chris (Gina), Sean, Justin, Paul, Allie, Nikkie, and Jennie; and a great-grandson, Aiden. Bill was born on July 30, 1931 in Oak Park, IL, the son of Dolph and Lillian Wuerfel, and the brother of Jean (Morey) and Betty (Armstrong). As a child, Bill grew up in Elmhurst IL and spent many of his summers up in Tomahawk, WI with his Grandparents, family, and his cousin, Dick Pelles - who was more like a brother to him. Bill attended York High School in Elmhurst, IL where he took mechanical drawing and was a member of the Student Council, Senior Cabinet, National Honor Society, and earned a band letter for playing the coronet. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Architecture in 1954. Bill and Peggy were married in Elmhurst on December 29, 1954. Bill served in the US Army from 1954 to 1956. After leaving the Army, Bill and Peggy moved to Illinois, and eventually settled in Glen Ellyn. Bill worked as an architect for C. F. Murphy Associates and went on to become the Vice President of the Design and Construction Unit at the First National Bank of Chicago, both located in downtown Chicago. Bill designed and built a home in the Northwoods of Wisconsin and later retired there in a place that he often visited and loved as a child. Bill was a full-time resident of Minocqua for over 21 years. He enjoyed fishing, boating, snowmobiling, and several hobbies- including carving ducks from blocks of wood, creating miniature trains, and several other artistic ventures that he created in his workshop. He was very creative and very good with his hands. Bill will be remembered and cherished for his love, guidance, and a wonderful sense of humor that he shared with everyone who knew him. A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held at Fireside Grille, 49 Sugar Lane, Sugar Grove, IL 60554 on Saturday, August 26, 2017, from 11:30 to 3:30. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bill’s name to: Dr. Kate Hospice, PO Box 770, Woodruff, Wi 54568. Please make checks payable to: “HYF – Dr. Kate Hospice”, and put “Bill Wuerfel / Seasons of Life” on the check Memo line.