Obituary of Jess William Stasch

Jess "Bill" William Stasch, Jr. age 89, of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 at Fairhaven in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Bill was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 23, 1926, the son of Jess William and Mary Margaret (Hews) Stasch Sr. Bill served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 until 1946 as a radio operator, seeing duty in the South Pacific during WWII. On May 22, 1948, Bill married Winifred "Winnie" Dehler in Chicago, Il. Bill was employed delivering milk in the Chicago area from 1946 until 1953. In 1957, Bill bought a dairy farm in rural Fort Atkinson, WI, farming until he retired in1986. Bill was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, WI where he served as an usher. He was a member of the Alfred P. Endres Council # 3396 Knights of Columbus and Fourth Degree of the Ave Maria Assembly #1650. He served as president and held many other offices for the Catholic Knights Branch #141. Bill was recognized as an outstanding farmer by the Fort Atkinson Chapter of the FFA. He served as Secretary-Treasurer for the Fort Atkinson Rural Life Association, served as President for the local PMA and AMPI, and served on the Board of Directors of the Badgerland CO-OP. He was also a member of the Paul Frank Florine American Legion Post #166 and the Edwin Frohmader VFW Post #1879. Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, and traveling. He was a Chicago Bear fan and enjoyed playing and watching baseball. Surviving are: Wife: Winifred "Winnie" Stasch, Whitewater, WI, Children: Linda Maasz-Schaller, Fort Atkinson, WI, Donna (John) Wickhem, Janesville, WI, Wayne Stasch, Fort Atkinson, WI, and Gale (Michael) Slattery, Indianola, NE, Grandchildren: Cynthia (Harvey) Hephner, William (Melissa Schlesner) Maasz, Holly (G. Jacob) Davie, Derek Wickhem, Sean Wickhem, Elisabeth (Robert) Thompson, Audra (Brandon) Rogneby, and Michael, James, Emily, and Amanda Slattery, Step-grandchildren: Adam Schaller and Leslie (Adam) Johnson, Nine Great-grandchildren, and Brother: Ronald (Margo) Stasch, Michigan, and Brother-in-law: Tom Carlsen, Il. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Donald Stasch, and a sister Jean Carlsen. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30AM on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1660 Endl Blvd, Fort Atkinson, WI with Father Brian Wilk officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Visitation will be from 5-7PM on Monday, March 30, 2015 at the Nitardy Funeral Home Chapel, 1008 Madison Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI with the parish rosary at 7PM, and after 9:30AM on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the church until time of the Mass. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial to the Wisconsin Parkinson's Association or to St. Joseph Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson, WI.