March 12, 2020 – West Bend, WI – William “Bill” Carl Kirchner, 102, of West Bend passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 at The Cottages at Cedar Run, West Bend.
He was born to the late Henry P. Kirchner and Rosa (nee Engeleiter) Kirchner on June 4, 1917 in the town of Addison. On July 9, 1938 he was united in marriage to Eileen Marie Suchy, and they lived most of their married life together in West Bend. He spent early years of his youth helping his parents on their farm, and was hired by the West Bend Company (aka West Bend Aluminum Company) retiring as a production supervisor in 1980 after 45 years of service. He then worked at Tennies Buick as a salesman where his love for automobiles flourished.
Bill was a member of West Bend Masonic Lodge #138 F&AM and served as Master of the Lodge, on the Degree Team, plus served as Chaplain for many years. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Milwaukee, Tripoli Shrine, the West Bend Moose Lodge #1398, Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on the Church Council plus other committees, and Chairman of the Board at the West Bend Employees Credit Union (Glacier Hills CU).
Bill is survived by his two sons, Carl (Joyce) and Keith (Sharon), and daughter Elyn; five grandchildren, son-in-law Dan Rosbeck, Cynthia (James) Bruder, Tammy (Peter) Nelson, Kristel (David) VandeBoom, Ryan (Samantha) Rosbeck, and Timothy (Heather) Kirchner; eight great grandchildren, Julia & Kayla Bruder; Emily, Abby, & Kristen Nelson; Jayden Swan, Trystan Kirchner, and Lucas VandeBoom; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his wife Eileen (2004) and daughter Colleen Rosbeck (2019); four sisters, Emma and Esther (in childhood), Vinelda (Rudy) Schulz, and Helen (James) Burckardt; his brother, Henry A. (Esther) Kirchner, brother-in-law Edward M. (Clara) Suchy; and three nephews, John Burckardt, Donald Schulz, & Allen Schulz.
A funeral service in remembrance of Bill will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at 12:15 p.m. at the Myrhum Patten Funeral Home, 1315 W Washington St., West Bend.
The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m. with a Masonic Service to follow.
Memorials preferred to Trinity Lutheran Church or Cedar Lake Foundation in Bill’s name is appreciated by the family.
The family would like to thank the nurses and staff at The Cottages at Cedar Run and Cedar Hospice for all their help and care.
