William A. Saunders

With family by his side, William A. Saunders, age 85, passed away at his residence on Monday August 6, 2012. William was born in Minneapolis, MN, on July 14, 1927, son of the late Guy and Frances (nee: Haubrich) Saunders.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota, with a degree in Engineering. On November 27, 1954, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Guttenberg, Iowa, Bill was united in marriage to Joan A. Elsinger, and since shared nearly fifty-eight beautiful years together. Bill was employed as a mechanical engineer with Ecko-ALCOA for a number of years and lastly with Western Publishing until his retirement in 1990.

He kept busy as a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Serra Club, Racine Curling Club, and Racine Boat Builders Club. Very active with construction, Bill volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and was instrumental in the construction of the Kid’s Cove Playground on North Beach. He was an instructor for 55 Alive and was an avid genealogist, model builder and had a great love of traveling. He will be best remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Joan; children, Judy (Sam) Pobst of Grand Rapids, MI, David (Cheryl) Saunders of Dallas Center, IA, Karen (Robert) McMaster of Pitman, NJ; eight grandchildren, Jacob, Rebecca and Rachael Pobst, Erin (fiancé, David Scott), Allison and Lisa (fiancé, John Henderson) Saunders, Alex and Kate McMaster; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, James; and additional half-sisters and a half-brother.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1533 Erie St., on Saturday, August 11, 2012, at 11 a.m., with Rev. Steve Varghese officiating. Interment will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Guttenberg, IA, on Sunday, August 12, 2012, at 1 p.m.. Relatives and friends may meet with the family at the church Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until time of Mass at 11 a.m. Memorials to St. Joseph Catholic Church or to Habitat for Humanity have been suggested.

MARESH-MEREDITH AND ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine   (262) 634-7888