William George Higgins

OREGON - William George Higgins, passed away on Thursday, November 4, 2010 after a long and courageous battle with diabetes and post polio syndrome. Bill was born in Madison on March 29, 1927 to Austin and Agnes (Prastil) Higgins. He attended East High School. Bill was just 17 when he enlisted in the Navy during World War II and served from May 22, 1944 to May 18, 1946. Most of his time was spent on a destroyer in the Pacific. Out of eight destroyers in their squadron only two were left at the end of the war. For many years he was an insurance salesman and had his own company called Bankers Insurance Services, Inc. Bill thoroughly enjoyed time spent at the cottage in St. Germain, and in his earlier years loved to deer hunt and snowmobile. He also liked fishing for muskies of which he caught several. Bill was a member of the Elks and VFW. He was Chairman of the Stella Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District. Bill was instrumental in having a dam built on the lake and was able to get the State of Wisconsin to pay 2/3 of the cost since they owned 2/3 of the land around the lake. We believe it was the first time in history that the State of Wisconsin helped pay for a new dam. Bill is survived by his three daughters, Sandra (Ray) Webber, Susan (Jerry) Anderson, both of Oregon, and Judy (Jerry) Laridaen of Sun Prairie; five grandchildren, Lee Webber, Casey Higgins, Sarah Anderson and Justin and Jordan Laridaen; sisters-in-law Helen Higgins of Minneapolis, Minn., Shirley (Norman) Gray of Brodhead, Lynette (Dick) ONeill of Naples, Fla.; brother-in-law Jack Mirabella of The Villages, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years Audrey (Streiff); brother, Jim; and sister, Doris. Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 1150 Park Street, Oregon, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010 with the Chaplain Bob Groth presiding. Burial will be at Prairie Mound Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. A special thank you to the staff at Oregon Manor who cared for Bill so well these last few years. They were very caring and treated him like family. We would like to thank Dr. Fiore for his many years of care. And a special thank you to Dr. Maki and the staff at UW Hospital TLC as well as Wisconsin Dialysis and Capital Express. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Cemetery: Burial will be at Prairie Mound Cemetery. Visitation: Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Service: Funeral services will be held at GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 1150 Park Street, Oregon, at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010 with the Chaplain Bob Groth presiding.