Obit: Cammers, William E. ‘Bill’ (1909 - 2012)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Cammers, Hanson, Hathaway, Ruprich

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) February 29, 2012

Cammers, William E. ‘Bill’ (6 April 1909 - 25 February 2012)

William E. Cammers (Bill), 102, died peacefully the morning of Saturday, February 25, with his wife by his side.  He had been a resident of Clark County Health Care Center in Owen for the past five years. Bill was born April 6, 1909, to William and Mary Jane Cammers in the Township of Beaver, Wisconsin. At the age of 16, he began traveling cross the United States.  As was common in those days, he hopped trains from one destination to the next, stopping in a location to work just long enough to get funds to continue his travels.  In this way he visited all 48 contiguous states. 

On May 10, 1939, at the age of 30 he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  In 1947, he attended the 9^th class of the five-month-long Bible School of Gilead in New York, a training school for missionaries. Upon graduation he was assigned to the Island of St. Lucia, West Indies. There he met his wife, Wilhelmina, who was also in special service as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. They had three sons.  They lived in St. Lucia until 1968 when Bill returned to Wisconsin to care for his mother. The rest of the family followed six months later.  They took up residence in Owen and Bill worked at Stewart Cheese in Greenwood.  Upon his retirement, Bill continued to spend much of his time visiting his neighbors, speaking to them about the "Good News of God’s Kingdom", as found in the Bible.  He served as an elder in the Thorp Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses until his death.  Bill was known and loved by many.  He will be remembered for his zeal in the ministry and his knowledge of the scriptures.  Many will remember his insightful, witty sayings that he used to both encourage and entertain.  He will be greatly missed.

Bill is survived by his living wife of 53 years, Wilhelmina "Kidsy"; his sons: Harley, Racine, WI, Arthur (Judy), Lexington, KY and Elton, Carlisle, PA; grandchildren: Connor, Sage and Jacquelin; and nieces: Bonnie Hanson, AZ, and Janet Hathaway, IN.  He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one sister.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at 3:00 p.m. at the Thorp Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, N14739 Bachelors Avenue, with Mr. Robert Ruprich officiating.

To leave online condolences for the family, please visit www.cremationsociety-wi.com.

The Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona, is assisting the family.