While some will remember William "Bill" Price for his deep love for animals, others will recall his handyman skills that seemed to have no match. However, it was the way he was generous, almost to a fault, that we will miss most. Known for his strong work ethic, Bill was the sort of man whose hobbies even looked a bit like work to most, but they suited him just fine. There was nothing more near and dear to his heart than his family, and although he loved being a father, he just may have argued that being a grandfather was his greatest reward. The timeless legacy Bill leaves behind is one of integrity, compassion for those around him, and great strength that will be carried on in the lives of his children and grandchildren.
Despite the unrelenting grip of the Great Depression during the 1930s, America clung to hope for reprieve while celebrating every small step forward. Nestled within this trying time was the year 1935 that boasted of Amelia Earhart's solo flight across the Atlantic and the General Electric's premier of the fluorescent tube. This was the same year that the family of Raymond and Joanna Price, in Walker, MI, welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on January 30th. William Raymond was the second of five children in his family including his older sister, Sue, and his younger siblings, Mary, Sally, and Robert. His father owned and operated a parking lot called Ray Price Parking and Used Cars on Market and Louis Ave. in downtown Grand Rapids. With more than enough to keep her busy at home, Bill's mother was a devoted homemaker and excellent cook.
Although the family lived in Marne for a short time, their homestead was in Caledonia where they lived on a small farm that included some crops and animals. Bill was responsible for a portion of the farm chores, instilling within him a lifelong willingness to work hard. It wasn't just his work ethic that was established during his formative years but also his love for animals of all kinds and for spending time outdoors. Bill worked on cars all the time, so it was only natural that he developed a love for cars and mechanics at an early age.
Bill's education began in a one room school house in Walker, MI. The family lived in South Haven, and Grand Rapids before moving to Caledonia. Bill attended Caledonia Jr. High School and later Caledonia High School. In high school he played football as well as the trumpet in the band. After finishing his school day Bill helped his father at the car lot most days. Wherever he went, Bill got there on his own set of wheels his father got him after trading in a steer. After graduating from Caledonia High School in 1953, Bill joined the Army National Guard and served for six month active duty at Ft. Leonard Wood.
When he returned to Grand Rapids, Bill went back to work for his father where he became acquainted with many of the regulars who parked their cars there. There was one particular patron who caught his eye. Her name was Sandra Kay Weiser and she worked at Wurzburg's. Over time Bill mustered up enough courage to ask her out, and she agreed. While waiting for her date to pick her up, Sandra couldn't help but notice him driving up and down the street in his 53' Chevy Convertable looking for her house, making several sweeps before he finally found it.
Bill and Sandy fell in love and were married on August 5, 1961. Together they were blessed with two wonderful girls, Kelly and Kathy, whom they raised in the family home on Sunset Hills Avenue for a time. Whether they were there for the weekend or a more extended stay, the family cottage on Campau Lake provided the backdrop for countless fun-filled memories to be made. They loved boating together, and Bill was a natural waterskier. The couple also loved to bowl - they even joked about building a bowling lane in their basement so they could bowl any time they wanted. Although Bill and Sandy later divorced in 1971, they remained friends throughout the rest of Bill's life.
In everything he did, Bill worked hard to support his family. He purchased a Sinclair gas station on Fulton near the downtown area , which he owned and operated for a number of years. After the car lot closed Bill and his father purchased some rental property, which proved to keep him very busy with a seemingly unending list of repairs and remodeling that needed to be completed as well as the constant flow of renters who came and went.
Those who knew Bill knew he was rarely idle, and was always tinkering with something. He was a great mechanic and natural handyman who could fix and repair just about anything. Bill especially enjoyed working on his yard and fiddling with lawnmowers - he owned a complete arsenal of mowers throughout the years. Bill was also a motorcycle enthusiast who owned four Harley-Davidsons. He made many trips to Sturgis with his brother, Bob, in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the motorcycle rally. A true animal lover at heart, Bill had many pets in his life – most of which he adopted from the animal shelter. He often visited the animals there, and it was not uncommon for him to provide a loving home for three or more adoptees at a time.
When he was looking for some down time, Bill loved watching movies and had a rather extensive collection including tough guy flicks starring Clint Eastwood and Steven Segal. He also loved music of all kinds such as big band music and albums from Harry James and Bobby Darin. Bill loved old fashioned home cooking with more traditional meals. He loved mashed potatoes along with most every kind of meat. Bill did not cook for himself, but always appreciated a good meal. Spending time with his grandchildren became a favorite activity from the moment they were born. He frequently saw them and babysat them, too, and always looked forward to seeing them.
Although he enjoyed a diverse palette of interests, there was nothing more precious to William Price than his family. He was easy going with a great sense of humor, and was always more than willing to help someone in need. Bill never worried about building wealth according to the world's standards, but was more focused on touching the hearts and lives of those around him. He will be deeply missed by many.
William R. "Bill" Price, aged 76, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Bill's family includes his daughters, Kelly (James) Kersjes, Kathy ( David) Ellison; his grandchildren, Tierney Kersjes and Michael Kersjes; his sisters and brother, Mary (Robert) Aguirre, Sally (Richard) Harris, Robert (Kathy) Price; his former wife, Sandra Price; nieces, nephews and many friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sue (Paul) Lind. A service to celebrate Bill's life will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:30 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to Pet Resource Network, PO Box 3034, Kalamazoo, MI 49003. Please visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.
Despite the unrelenting grip of the Great Depression during the 1930s, America clung to hope for reprieve while celebrating every small step forward. Nestled within this trying time was the year 1935 that boasted of Amelia Earhart's solo flight across the Atlantic and the General Electric's premier of the fluorescent tube. This was the same year that the family of Raymond and Joanna Price, in Walker, MI, welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on January 30th. William Raymond was the second of five children in his family including his older sister, Sue, and his younger siblings, Mary, Sally, and Robert. His father owned and operated a parking lot called Ray Price Parking and Used Cars on Market and Louis Ave. in downtown Grand Rapids. With more than enough to keep her busy at home, Bill's mother was a devoted homemaker and excellent cook.
Although the family lived in Marne for a short time, their homestead was in Caledonia where they lived on a small farm that included some crops and animals. Bill was responsible for a portion of the farm chores, instilling within him a lifelong willingness to work hard. It wasn't just his work ethic that was established during his formative years but also his love for animals of all kinds and for spending time outdoors. Bill worked on cars all the time, so it was only natural that he developed a love for cars and mechanics at an early age.
Bill's education began in a one room school house in Walker, MI. The family lived in South Haven, and Grand Rapids before moving to Caledonia. Bill attended Caledonia Jr. High School and later Caledonia High School. In high school he played football as well as the trumpet in the band. After finishing his school day Bill helped his father at the car lot most days. Wherever he went, Bill got there on his own set of wheels his father got him after trading in a steer. After graduating from Caledonia High School in 1953, Bill joined the Army National Guard and served for six month active duty at Ft. Leonard Wood.
When he returned to Grand Rapids, Bill went back to work for his father where he became acquainted with many of the regulars who parked their cars there. There was one particular patron who caught his eye. Her name was Sandra Kay Weiser and she worked at Wurzburg's. Over time Bill mustered up enough courage to ask her out, and she agreed. While waiting for her date to pick her up, Sandra couldn't help but notice him driving up and down the street in his 53' Chevy Convertable looking for her house, making several sweeps before he finally found it.
Bill and Sandy fell in love and were married on August 5, 1961. Together they were blessed with two wonderful girls, Kelly and Kathy, whom they raised in the family home on Sunset Hills Avenue for a time. Whether they were there for the weekend or a more extended stay, the family cottage on Campau Lake provided the backdrop for countless fun-filled memories to be made. They loved boating together, and Bill was a natural waterskier. The couple also loved to bowl - they even joked about building a bowling lane in their basement so they could bowl any time they wanted. Although Bill and Sandy later divorced in 1971, they remained friends throughout the rest of Bill's life.
In everything he did, Bill worked hard to support his family. He purchased a Sinclair gas station on Fulton near the downtown area , which he owned and operated for a number of years. After the car lot closed Bill and his father purchased some rental property, which proved to keep him very busy with a seemingly unending list of repairs and remodeling that needed to be completed as well as the constant flow of renters who came and went.
Those who knew Bill knew he was rarely idle, and was always tinkering with something. He was a great mechanic and natural handyman who could fix and repair just about anything. Bill especially enjoyed working on his yard and fiddling with lawnmowers - he owned a complete arsenal of mowers throughout the years. Bill was also a motorcycle enthusiast who owned four Harley-Davidsons. He made many trips to Sturgis with his brother, Bob, in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the motorcycle rally. A true animal lover at heart, Bill had many pets in his life – most of which he adopted from the animal shelter. He often visited the animals there, and it was not uncommon for him to provide a loving home for three or more adoptees at a time.
When he was looking for some down time, Bill loved watching movies and had a rather extensive collection including tough guy flicks starring Clint Eastwood and Steven Segal. He also loved music of all kinds such as big band music and albums from Harry James and Bobby Darin. Bill loved old fashioned home cooking with more traditional meals. He loved mashed potatoes along with most every kind of meat. Bill did not cook for himself, but always appreciated a good meal. Spending time with his grandchildren became a favorite activity from the moment they were born. He frequently saw them and babysat them, too, and always looked forward to seeing them.
Although he enjoyed a diverse palette of interests, there was nothing more precious to William Price than his family. He was easy going with a great sense of humor, and was always more than willing to help someone in need. Bill never worried about building wealth according to the world's standards, but was more focused on touching the hearts and lives of those around him. He will be deeply missed by many.
William R. "Bill" Price, aged 76, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Bill's family includes his daughters, Kelly (James) Kersjes, Kathy ( David) Ellison; his grandchildren, Tierney Kersjes and Michael Kersjes; his sisters and brother, Mary (Robert) Aguirre, Sally (Richard) Harris, Robert (Kathy) Price; his former wife, Sandra Price; nieces, nephews and many friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sue (Paul) Lind. A service to celebrate Bill's life will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:30 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to Pet Resource Network, PO Box 3034, Kalamazoo, MI 49003. Please visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.
While some will remember William "Bill" Price for his deep love for animals, others will recall his handyman skills that seemed to have no match. However, it was the way he was generous, almost to a fault, that we will miss most. Known for his strong work ethic, Bill was the sort of man whose hobbies even looked a bit like work to most, but they suited him just fine. There was nothing more near and dear to his heart than his family, and although he loved being a father, he just may have argued that being a grandfather was his greatest reward. The timeless legacy Bill leaves behind is one of integrity, compassion for those around him, and great strength that will be carried on in the lives of his children and grandchildren.
Despite the unrelenting grip of the Great Depression during the 1930s, America clung to hope for reprieve while celebrating every small step forward. Nestled within this trying time was the year 1935 that boasted of Amelia Earhart's solo flight across the Atlantic and the General Electric's premier of the fluorescent tube. This was the same year that the family of Raymond and Joanna Price, in Walker, MI, welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on January 30th. William Raymond was the second of five children in his family including his older sister, Sue, and his younger siblings, Mary, Sally, and Robert. His father owned and operated a parking lot called Ray Price Parking and Used Cars on Market and Louis Ave. in downtown Grand Rapids. With more than enough to keep her busy at home, Bill's mother was a devoted homemaker and excellent cook.
Although the family lived in Marne for a short time, their homestead was in Caledonia where they lived on a small farm that included some crops and animals. Bill was responsible for a portion of the farm chores, instilling within him a lifelong willingness to work hard. It wasn't just his work ethic that was established during his formative years but also his love for animals of all kinds and for spending time outdoors. Bill worked on cars all the time, so it was only natural that he developed a love for cars and mechanics at an early age.
Bill's education began in a one room school house in Walker, MI. The family lived in South Haven, and Grand Rapids before moving to Caledonia. Bill attended Caledonia Jr. High School and later Caledonia High School. In high school he played football as well as the trumpet in the band. After finishing his school day Bill helped his father at the car lot most days. Wherever he went, Bill got there on his own set of wheels his father got him after trading in a steer. After graduating from Caledonia High School in 1953, Bill joined the Army National Guard and served for six month active duty at Ft. Leonard Wood.
When he returned to Grand Rapids, Bill went back to work for his father where he became acquainted with many of the regulars who parked their cars there. There was one particular patron who caught his eye. Her name was Sandra Kay Weiser and she worked at Wurzburg's. Over time Bill mustered up enough courage to ask her out, and she agreed. While waiting for her date to pick her up, Sandra couldn't help but notice him driving up and down the street in his 53' Chevy Convertable looking for her house, making several sweeps before he finally found it.
Bill and Sandy fell in love and were married on August 5, 1961. Together they were blessed with two wonderful girls, Kelly and Kathy, whom they raised in the family home on Sunset Hills Avenue for a time. Whether they were there for the weekend or a more extended stay, the family cottage on Campau Lake provided the backdrop for countless fun-filled memories to be made. They loved boating together, and Bill was a natural waterskier. The couple also loved to bowl - they even joked about building a bowling lane in their basement so they could bowl any time they wanted. Although Bill and Sandy later divorced in 1971, they remained friends throughout the rest of Bill's life.
In everything he did, Bill worked hard to support his family. He purchased a Sinclair gas station on Fulton near the downtown area , which he owned and operated for a number of years. After the car lot closed Bill and his father purchased some rental property, which proved to keep him very busy with a seemingly unending list of repairs and remodeling that needed to be completed as well as the constant flow of renters who came and went.
Those who knew Bill knew he was rarely idle, and was always tinkering with something. He was a great mechanic and natural handyman who could fix and repair just about anything. Bill especially enjoyed working on his yard and fiddling with lawnmowers - he owned a complete arsenal of mowers throughout the years. Bill was also a motorcycle enthusiast who owned four Harley-Davidsons. He made many trips to Sturgis with his brother, Bob, in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the motorcycle rally. A true animal lover at heart, Bill had many pets in his life – most of which he adopted from the animal shelter. He often visited the animals there, and it was not uncommon for him to provide a loving home for three or more adoptees at a time.
When he was looking for some down time, Bill loved watching movies and had a rather extensive collection including tough guy flicks starring Clint Eastwood and Steven Segal. He also loved music of all kinds such as big band music and albums from Harry James and Bobby Darin. Bill loved old fashioned home cooking with more traditional meals. He loved mashed potatoes along with most every kind of meat. Bill did not cook for himself, but always appreciated a good meal. Spending time with his grandchildren became a favorite activity from the moment they were born. He frequently saw them and babysat them, too, and always looked forward to seeing them.
Although he enjoyed a diverse palette of interests, there was nothing more precious to William Price than his family. He was easy going with a great sense of humor, and was always more than willing to help someone in need. Bill never worried about building wealth according to the world's standards, but was more focused on touching the hearts and lives of those around him. He will be deeply missed by many.
William R. "Bill" Price, aged 76, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Bill's family includes his daughters, Kelly (James) Kersjes, Kathy ( David) Ellison; his grandchildren, Tierney Kersjes and Michael Kersjes; his sisters and brother, Mary (Robert) Aguirre, Sally (Richard) Harris, Robert (Kathy) Price; his former wife, Sandra Price; nieces, nephews and many friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sue (Paul) Lind. A service to celebrate Bill's life will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:30 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to Pet Resource Network, PO Box 3034, Kalamazoo, MI 49003. Please visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.
Despite the unrelenting grip of the Great Depression during the 1930s, America clung to hope for reprieve while celebrating every small step forward. Nestled within this trying time was the year 1935 that boasted of Amelia Earhart's solo flight across the Atlantic and the General Electric's premier of the fluorescent tube. This was the same year that the family of Raymond and Joanna Price, in Walker, MI, welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on January 30th. William Raymond was the second of five children in his family including his older sister, Sue, and his younger siblings, Mary, Sally, and Robert. His father owned and operated a parking lot called Ray Price Parking and Used Cars on Market and Louis Ave. in downtown Grand Rapids. With more than enough to keep her busy at home, Bill's mother was a devoted homemaker and excellent cook.
Although the family lived in Marne for a short time, their homestead was in Caledonia where they lived on a small farm that included some crops and animals. Bill was responsible for a portion of the farm chores, instilling within him a lifelong willingness to work hard. It wasn't just his work ethic that was established during his formative years but also his love for animals of all kinds and for spending time outdoors. Bill worked on cars all the time, so it was only natural that he developed a love for cars and mechanics at an early age.
Bill's education began in a one room school house in Walker, MI. The family lived in South Haven, and Grand Rapids before moving to Caledonia. Bill attended Caledonia Jr. High School and later Caledonia High School. In high school he played football as well as the trumpet in the band. After finishing his school day Bill helped his father at the car lot most days. Wherever he went, Bill got there on his own set of wheels his father got him after trading in a steer. After graduating from Caledonia High School in 1953, Bill joined the Army National Guard and served for six month active duty at Ft. Leonard Wood.
When he returned to Grand Rapids, Bill went back to work for his father where he became acquainted with many of the regulars who parked their cars there. There was one particular patron who caught his eye. Her name was Sandra Kay Weiser and she worked at Wurzburg's. Over time Bill mustered up enough courage to ask her out, and she agreed. While waiting for her date to pick her up, Sandra couldn't help but notice him driving up and down the street in his 53' Chevy Convertable looking for her house, making several sweeps before he finally found it.
Bill and Sandy fell in love and were married on August 5, 1961. Together they were blessed with two wonderful girls, Kelly and Kathy, whom they raised in the family home on Sunset Hills Avenue for a time. Whether they were there for the weekend or a more extended stay, the family cottage on Campau Lake provided the backdrop for countless fun-filled memories to be made. They loved boating together, and Bill was a natural waterskier. The couple also loved to bowl - they even joked about building a bowling lane in their basement so they could bowl any time they wanted. Although Bill and Sandy later divorced in 1971, they remained friends throughout the rest of Bill's life.
In everything he did, Bill worked hard to support his family. He purchased a Sinclair gas station on Fulton near the downtown area , which he owned and operated for a number of years. After the car lot closed Bill and his father purchased some rental property, which proved to keep him very busy with a seemingly unending list of repairs and remodeling that needed to be completed as well as the constant flow of renters who came and went.
Those who knew Bill knew he was rarely idle, and was always tinkering with something. He was a great mechanic and natural handyman who could fix and repair just about anything. Bill especially enjoyed working on his yard and fiddling with lawnmowers - he owned a complete arsenal of mowers throughout the years. Bill was also a motorcycle enthusiast who owned four Harley-Davidsons. He made many trips to Sturgis with his brother, Bob, in the Black Hills of South Dakota for the motorcycle rally. A true animal lover at heart, Bill had many pets in his life – most of which he adopted from the animal shelter. He often visited the animals there, and it was not uncommon for him to provide a loving home for three or more adoptees at a time.
When he was looking for some down time, Bill loved watching movies and had a rather extensive collection including tough guy flicks starring Clint Eastwood and Steven Segal. He also loved music of all kinds such as big band music and albums from Harry James and Bobby Darin. Bill loved old fashioned home cooking with more traditional meals. He loved mashed potatoes along with most every kind of meat. Bill did not cook for himself, but always appreciated a good meal. Spending time with his grandchildren became a favorite activity from the moment they were born. He frequently saw them and babysat them, too, and always looked forward to seeing them.
Although he enjoyed a diverse palette of interests, there was nothing more precious to William Price than his family. He was easy going with a great sense of humor, and was always more than willing to help someone in need. Bill never worried about building wealth according to the world's standards, but was more focused on touching the hearts and lives of those around him. He will be deeply missed by many.
William R. "Bill" Price, aged 76, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Bill's family includes his daughters, Kelly (James) Kersjes, Kathy ( David) Ellison; his grandchildren, Tierney Kersjes and Michael Kersjes; his sisters and brother, Mary (Robert) Aguirre, Sally (Richard) Harris, Robert (Kathy) Price; his former wife, Sandra Price; nieces, nephews and many friends. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Sue (Paul) Lind. A service to celebrate Bill's life will be held on Monday afternoon at 1:30 at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to Pet Resource Network, PO Box 3034, Kalamazoo, MI 49003. Please visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.
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