Willard Marshall

Willard Marshall, age 86, of Waunakee passed away on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Ingleside Manor in Mount Horeb. He was born on May 30, 1932 in Richland Center, Wisconsin, the son of Lambern Marshall and Mary (Allaback) Marshall. He married Mary Theresa Murphy on November 22, 1958 in St. John's Newfoundland, Canada where they met when Bill was stationed at Fort Pepperell Air Force Base. Bill and Mary would have been celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on November 22 of this year.

Bill graduated from high school in Richland Center and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 where he served for 16 and a half years, including 2 and a half years in Germany. He served as a cryptographer at the Pentagon and retired in 1968 with the rank of TSGT. After leaving the military, Bill worked as a driving instructor for Four Lakes Driving School in Madison before moving his family to Oregon, Wisconsin in 1971 to take a job with GTE as a Maintenance Supervisor until his early retirement in 1992. Bill spent most of his retirement years enjoying his grandchildren and playing golf, softball, bowling, and playing euchre with his many friends. He was an avid Wisconsin Badgers fan and enjoyed watching football and basketball games with his family. Bill always had a friendly word and a smile for everyone he saw. That smile will be greatly missed.

Bill is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary; daughters Sue (Lyle) Nichelson of Fort Worth, Texas; Sharon Marshall (Jim Venden) of Verona; granddaughters Amie Kjellstrom and Erin Kjellstrom, both of Madison; Lauren Nichelson of Fort Worth, Texas; brothers Leland Marshall and Allen (Patty) Marshall; sister Lea Win) Coffrin and many nieces and nephews.

A private family service will be held on October 18, 2018 at Cress Funeral Service in Madison. Bill's ashes will be scattered at his favorite home course, Foxboro Golf Club, in Oregon, where he proudly got his first hole in one; at the Oregon Bowl, where he bowled a perfect 300 game; and at the softball diamonds in Oregon where he enjoyed playing ball until well into his 60's.
Please consider donating to the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Organization in memory of Bill and so many others who suffer from this heartbreaking disease.

"Don't think of him as gone away, his journey's just begun, life holds so many facets and this earth is only one. Just think of him as resting from the sorrows and the tears in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years. Think how he must be wishing that we could know today how nothing but our sadness can really pass away. And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched...for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much."