William B. Veenendaal

MIDDLETON-William B. Veenendaal passed away quietly at home on Saturday, July 7, 2012, beloved husband of Laurie Veenendaal, and father of Adam and Eric (by previous marriage to Jeannie Bettesworth); beloved step-father of Benjamin Ratliffe, Lucas Ratliffe, and Julie Smith (Mike). He is further survived by a brother, David (Nancy); and a sister, Marcia. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Gertrude Veenendaal. Bill was born in 1948, in Burlington. He grew up in Detroit and enjoyed a year at Capital University before enlisting in the U.S. Navy where he discovered computers and his life's work and play. He served with the U.S. Navy from 1969 until 1973 in Hawaii, built and maintained aviation simulators, and met his wife, Jeannie. Returning to Wisconsin in 1975, he began his career at the company known originally as Noran Instruments in Middleton, and now as ThermoFisher Scientific in Fitchburg. He began as a QA Technician and later worked in Database Management. In 1992, Bill and Laurie married, and have always said they have lived their life backwards, starting with a house and five children and ending it living in an apartment paying off student loans, as Bill had returned to school to finish both an Associate Degree in Web Design and Programming and a B.S. in Computer Science at the age of 62. Funeral services will be held at ST. MARTIN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2427 Church Street, Cross Plains, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2012, with the Rev. Richard Lund presiding. A meal will be served following the service. Visitation will be held at the church from 4 p.m. until the time of service on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lutheran Outdoors South Dakota: “losd.org.” Facebook tributes from children, family, and friends: He was such a beautiful soul. He didn't have to tell people he was he was a Christian. He just simply loved and accepted people. He was kind, patient, caring, and into his last days able to make people make people not take life's trials too seriously. He made our family whole. He's taught me about love, patience, kindness and selfless generosity. Thank you, Bill, for saving our family, and for all the maturity, kindness, and dedication you've shown this world. Good-bye, Friend In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lutheran Outdoors South Dakota: “losd.org.” Visitation will be held at the church from 4 p.m. until the time of service on Thursday. Funeral services will be held at ST. MARTIN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, 2427 Church Street, Cross Plains, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2012, with the Rev. Richard Lund presiding