William ""Bill"" G. Godding

Fitchburg - William ""Bill"" G. Godding, age 85, died peacefully on May 08, 2010 at the Don & Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg. Bill was born on December 31, 1924 in Madison to Harry and Bertha (Koenig) Godding.   He graduated from Madison East High School in 1942 and entered the US Marine Corp. He served in Saipan, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Marshal Islands as a demolitions expert. On June 7, 1947 he married his best friend and life's partner Jeanette Haugstad.   Bill attended the University of Wisconsin and received his degree in art education and biology. He taught elementary art in the Madison School system for 30 years, first at Sunnyside, then Gompers, Mendota, Lindberg, Crestwood and Spring Harbor. He loved teaching and encouraged creative growth in all of his students. After he retired from teaching, he became an artist photographer and Bill and Jeanette traveled extensively and exhibited his work in a series of juried art shows. He was an active member of the Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspersons. Bill is survived by his wife Jeanette; his daughters, Sandra Pomponio (Mario) and Carol Harrington;  his grandchildren, Christina Pomponio of Campbell, Calif., and Abraham Harrington; his brother Allen Godding (Martha); and his beloved   nieces, nephews, many good friends,   grandpups and grandbirds. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers Harold, Harry, Charles, and Herbert.   A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 20, 2010, at the First Unitarian Society in Madison , 900 University Bay Drive, Madison at 6:00 PM.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to HospiceCare Inc., 5395 E. Cheryl Pkwy., Madison, WI   53711. or the Wisconsin Alliance of Artists and Craftspersons (WAAC) PO Box 1791 Madison, WI 53701-1791. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the caring staff at HospiceCare, Inc., Stoughton Hospital, Seebring Gardens Memory Care Unit, and the Comfort Keepers of Madison.   ""In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine."" -- Ralph Waldo Emerson