Parents: Helen Church and Harry T. McNamara
In 1946, his family moved to Rockford, Illinois where he attended East Rockford High School and excelled in both football and golf. His senior year, he earned state honors and the American Legion Award. He went on to play center and linebacker at the University of Wisconsin in Madison between 1953 and 1956. During his time at University of Wisconsin, he also joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and met his future wife, Sue Mellencamp. He was inducted into an exclusive undergraduate honor society, The Iron Cross and finished his bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing.
Following graduation, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and served in the U.S. Airforce for two years. He and Sue married in 1957 and moved to Hamilton AFB and had their first son in 1958. After two years serving in the military, they moved back to Rockford, Illinois where Bill joined his father's business Blue Star Foods. They welcomed two more boys to the family, John in 1959 and Tom in 1964. He later received an offer from Fairmont Foods to be the Vice-President of their snack division and moved the family to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1971, Bill purchased Columbine Beverage Company in Denver, Colorado and moved the family to Littleton. They joined Columbine Country Club in 1972 and Bill served as president in 1979.
Bill purchased another business, Inventory Auditors and after growing the business to included branches throughout the western US, sold it in 1998 and retired. He and Sue purchased a home in Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch and spent their winters in Arizona until 2020 when they returned to Colorado. In 2021, they moved to The Ridge in Lakewood where they stayed until Bill's passing on February 28th.
Bill and Sue were married 65 years and lived a full life full of travel all over the world. Bill cherished family and was a proud father and grandfather to ten grandchildren.
In 1946, his family moved to Rockford, Illinois where he attended East Rockford High School and excelled in both football and golf. His senior year, he earned state honors and the American Legion Award. He went on to play center and linebacker at the University of Wisconsin in Madison between 1953 and 1956. During his time at University of Wisconsin, he also joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and met his future wife, Sue Mellencamp. He was inducted into an exclusive undergraduate honor society, The Iron Cross and finished his bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing.
Following graduation, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and served in the U.S. Airforce for two years. He and Sue married in 1957 and moved to Hamilton AFB and had their first son in 1958. After two years serving in the military, they moved back to Rockford, Illinois where Bill joined his father's business Blue Star Foods. They welcomed two more boys to the family, John in 1959 and Tom in 1964. He later received an offer from Fairmont Foods to be the Vice-President of their snack division and moved the family to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1971, Bill purchased Columbine Beverage Company in Denver, Colorado and moved the family to Littleton. They joined Columbine Country Club in 1972 and Bill served as president in 1979.
Bill purchased another business, Inventory Auditors and after growing the business to included branches throughout the western US, sold it in 1998 and retired. He and Sue purchased a home in Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch and spent their winters in Arizona until 2020 when they returned to Colorado. In 2021, they moved to The Ridge in Lakewood where they stayed until Bill's passing on February 28th.
Bill and Sue were married 65 years and lived a full life full of travel all over the world. Bill cherished family and was a proud father and grandfather to ten grandchildren.
Parents: Helen Church and Harry T. McNamara
In 1946, his family moved to Rockford, Illinois where he attended East Rockford High School and excelled in both football and golf. His senior year, he earned state honors and the American Legion Award. He went on to play center and linebacker at the University of Wisconsin in Madison between 1953 and 1956. During his time at University of Wisconsin, he also joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and met his future wife, Sue Mellencamp. He was inducted into an exclusive undergraduate honor society, The Iron Cross and finished his bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing.
Following graduation, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and served in the U.S. Airforce for two years. He and Sue married in 1957 and moved to Hamilton AFB and had their first son in 1958. After two years serving in the military, they moved back to Rockford, Illinois where Bill joined his father's business Blue Star Foods. They welcomed two more boys to the family, John in 1959 and Tom in 1964. He later received an offer from Fairmont Foods to be the Vice-President of their snack division and moved the family to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1971, Bill purchased Columbine Beverage Company in Denver, Colorado and moved the family to Littleton. They joined Columbine Country Club in 1972 and Bill served as president in 1979.
Bill purchased another business, Inventory Auditors and after growing the business to included branches throughout the western US, sold it in 1998 and retired. He and Sue purchased a home in Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch and spent their winters in Arizona until 2020 when they returned to Colorado. In 2021, they moved to The Ridge in Lakewood where they stayed until Bill's passing on February 28th.
Bill and Sue were married 65 years and lived a full life full of travel all over the world. Bill cherished family and was a proud father and grandfather to ten grandchildren.
In 1946, his family moved to Rockford, Illinois where he attended East Rockford High School and excelled in both football and golf. His senior year, he earned state honors and the American Legion Award. He went on to play center and linebacker at the University of Wisconsin in Madison between 1953 and 1956. During his time at University of Wisconsin, he also joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity and met his future wife, Sue Mellencamp. He was inducted into an exclusive undergraduate honor society, The Iron Cross and finished his bachelor's degree in Business and Marketing.
Following graduation, he received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and served in the U.S. Airforce for two years. He and Sue married in 1957 and moved to Hamilton AFB and had their first son in 1958. After two years serving in the military, they moved back to Rockford, Illinois where Bill joined his father's business Blue Star Foods. They welcomed two more boys to the family, John in 1959 and Tom in 1964. He later received an offer from Fairmont Foods to be the Vice-President of their snack division and moved the family to Omaha, Nebraska. In 1971, Bill purchased Columbine Beverage Company in Denver, Colorado and moved the family to Littleton. They joined Columbine Country Club in 1972 and Bill served as president in 1979.
Bill purchased another business, Inventory Auditors and after growing the business to included branches throughout the western US, sold it in 1998 and retired. He and Sue purchased a home in Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch and spent their winters in Arizona until 2020 when they returned to Colorado. In 2021, they moved to The Ridge in Lakewood where they stayed until Bill's passing on February 28th.
Bill and Sue were married 65 years and lived a full life full of travel all over the world. Bill cherished family and was a proud father and grandfather to ten grandchildren.
Inscription
1st Lt US Air Force
Gravesite Details
Private interment
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