October 19, 2023 – West Bend, WI – Rev. William L. “Bill” Wiederanders, 89, of West Bend, was called home to be with his Lord on October 15, 2023, at Ivy Manor in West Bend.
Bill was born on October 7, 1934, in Clinton, Iowa, the son of the late Martin and Olivia (nee Mix) Wiederanders. Bill graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Wartburg College in 1957, taught for a couple of years in the public schools, and then embarked on a musical career that included the United States Army Chorus in Washington D.C. and touring with the Robert Shaw Chorale based in New York City. During this time he met and married a fellow accomplished musician, Marlys Trunkhill. Bill and Marlys brought two amazing children into the world, Seth and Sharon, born in Connecticut.
In 1976, the family moved to De Pere, Wisconsin, where both Bill and Marlys served as voice instructors at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Soon their journeys diverged, and Bill returned to Iowa between 1980 and 1984 to attend Wartburg Theological Seminary. Bill served as pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Warren, Illinois, and Namekagon Congregation Church in Earl, Wisconsin. In 1992, Bill was called to the Kettle Moraine region to preside over what now is called the New Horizon UCC (formerly St. Paul’s UCC of Silver Creek and St. John’s UCC in Beechwood and Boltonville, Wisconsin).
In 1994, Bill, a baritone, asked Nancy Albert, an alto, out for a cup of coffee. Both long-time members of the Moraine Chorus in West Bend, Wisconsin, Bill and Nancy were married one year later in 1995, together forging a simple but beautiful life together at their home in the Town of Barton. Nancy’s youngest son Daniel and then Dan’s dog Lily, helped complete the shared home. Bill and Nancy were married for 28 years. In 2003, Bill was called to Peace UCC in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, where he served as the visitation pastor and enjoyed many years of bible study and choir until his retirement in 2013.
Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children and step-children, Seth Wiederanders (Jenny Blue), Sharon (Sean VanRiette) Wiederanders, Patrick (Beth Schmitt) Albert, Christopher (Alessandra Lemos) Albert, Jean (Michael) Plum, and Daniel Albert; grandchildren, Michael VanRiette, Hannah VanRiette, Ezra VanRiette, Margot VanRiette, Alexander Plum, Katie Plum, Benjamin Plum, Eve Albert, Calista Albert, Daniela Albert, and Alana Albert; a brother-in-law, Gary Dougherty; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Murray and Judy Dougherty; other relatives and special friends.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his godson, Jonah Klapatch, and Jonah’s mother Marlys Trunkhill; his sister, Elizabeth (Arthur) Becker; his brothers, Robert (Wauneta) Wiederaenders, Richard (Mildred) Wiederanders, and Donald (Helen) Wiederanders; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Elizabeth (Samuel) Critides, Daniel Dougherty, Maureen Dougherty, and James Murray.
VISITATION: Bill’s family will greet relatives and friends at Peace United Church of Christ, 343 First Street, in Kewaskum on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 11 a.m. until 12:45 p.m.
FUNERAL SERVICE: A service for Bill will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at Peace UCC in Kewaskum. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery (New) in West Bend on Forest View Road in the town of Barton.
