William Karl Ackermann

WILLIAM KARL ACKERMANN died peacefully on February 11, 2010 of natural causes at Oakwood Village in Madison. He was born January 18, 1918 in Oshkosh, Wis., the first of three sons, to Karl and Marie (nee Stein) Ackermann. Bill completed high school in Fond du Lac, Wis., and graduated from Oshkosh Teachers College before being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941. He was a first lieutenant with the 141st Infantry Artillery stationed in Australia during World War II and served in Biac and Port Moresby, New Guinea. After returning to the U.S. in 1944, he married Mary Ann Lackner and completed his service in Fort Sill, Okla. Bill and Mary Ann returned to Wisconsin, where he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and studied chemistry. He became an engineer with French Battery Co. Ray-O-Vac in Madison, where he specialized in research and development, quality control, and personnel management for more than 30 years before retiring in 1982. He shared a love of art with Mary Ann and their daughter, Karla. Mary Ann, a longtime art teacher with Madison Public Schools, died in 1972. In 1976, Bill met and married Mary Ann Allen, an administrator with Middleton Public Schools. They traveled widely and shared many friends and interests. Bill is survived by his daughter, Karla Ackermann of Madison; stepdaughters Jane Allen Fahey of East Lansing, Mich.; Ann Dee Allen (Larry Harper) of Brookfield, Wis.; Gail Allen (Jeff Hoerning) of Madison; and grandchildren Maggie, Tom, Carrie, and Patty Fahey and Steven and Elizabeth Hoerning. He was preceded in death by Karl and Marie Ackermann, brothers John and Karl Ackermann, Mary Ann Lackner Ackermann, and Mary Ann Allen. Bill loved spending time with his family, friends, and grandchildren, and enjoyed golf, good food and wine, martinis, art, and 1930s and '40s jazz. He loved humor, which he shared with the many people who surrounded him in love and appreciation. He was loved by all who knew him and will be sadly missed.   A memorial service will be held at 5:00 pm on Friday, February 19, 2010 at Oakwood Resurrection Chapel, 6205 Mineral Point Rd., Madison, WI   53705.   Memorials may be made to Hospice Care of Madison, Oakwood Village of Madison, United Way of Dane Co., or another charity.      Peace.