William J. Cnare

MADISON-William J. Cnare, age 73, passed away on Sunday, May 15, 2016, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Madison, Wis., in 1942, along with an identical twin brother, Charles Cnare, to his parents, Harold and Eleanor Cnare. A fifth-generation Madisonian, William "Badger Bill" graduated from Madison East High School in 1960. He attended UW-Whitewater and received his bachelor's degree in Business and Accounting from Madison Business College. Bill's life's work was helping run the family business, The Ice Cream Shop, a noted Madison institution. He did all of the accounting and helped make ice cream for 30 years until it closed in 1991. Bill then worked as a salesman at John Lancaster Chevrolet until he retired in 2004. He was a lifelong Badgers football fan and season ticket holder for UW football for over 40 years. Bill was honored to be elected President of the Mendota Gridiron Club, the UW football booster club, in 1989. He was married on June 15, 1968 to Nan Storbakken, whom he met 2 years earlier. Bill loved to travel world-wide with his family on several visits to Europe and experience his German heritage with a visit to Germany. Bill is survived by his wife, Nan; and daughters, Rebecca Cnare and Julie Cnare-Ring; his son-in-law, Conrad Ring; and his three grandchildren, Mason Ring and twins, William J. Cnare II and Vivian Cnare. He is also survived by his sister, Jan Thomson and her son, Mark (Sabrina); and his sister Marian's children, Dan (Linda) Douglas, Dawn (Mike Mellom) Douglas Mellom and twins, Tim (Terri) Douglas and Scott (Kim) Douglas; and many other close friends and family. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his twin brother who died at age 8 months; his sister, Marian Douglas and her husband, David; and his brother-in-law, Mike Thomson. A prayer service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 2p.m., on Sunday, May 22, 2016. A time of visiting will take place during an Ice Cream Social at the funeral home immediately following the service on Sunday. A private inurnment will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery in the Cnare family lot. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mendota Gridiron Club. In honor of Badger Bill's love of Wisconsin sports, we ask that you wear your Badgers red. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420