STOUGHTON - William L. “Bill” Bates, age 91, of Stoughton, passed away on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Skaalen Nursing and Rehabilitation. He was born on December 12, 1934, in Madison, the son of Art and Irma Bates

Bill graduated from Madison East High School in 1952. He met the love of his life, Jo Anne Dahlman, on a blind date through mutual friends, and they were married in 1954 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Monona. Bill completed a five-year electrical apprenticeship with Local 159 and spent his entire 40-year career with H&H Electric. He was a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers for 65 years.

Bill and Jo were blessed with six children and eight grandchildren. They enjoyed playing cards, camping with family and traveling on many vacations together. After retiring in 1996, Bill and Jo moved to Brodhead where they built a home on two acres of wooded land.

Bill was a devoted Packers, Brewers, Bucks and Badgers sports fan. He enjoyed Old Fashioneds, Bloody Marys and Friday fish fries, working in his yard and especially taking fishing trips. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 40 years. In 2021, Bill moved to Stoughton.

Bill is survived by his six children, Lynn (Wendell) Egeness, Diane (Kurt) Miller, Terry (Jim Ludwig) Brundish, Joy (Jeff) Gunderson, Mike (Bev) Bates and Dan (Emily) Bates; and grandchildren, Rachael Lawry, Zander and Skyler Gunderson, Katie, Matthew, Connor, Kiley and Addison Bates. He was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Irma; wife, Jo; and sister, Elaine Tomlinson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at ST. ANN CATHOLIC CHURCH, 323 N. Van Buren St., Stoughton, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, September 10, 2026, with Father Randy Budnar presiding. A private family burial will take place at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass on Thursday.

We miss you dad, we hope they have pie in Heaven.

Bill’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Agrace HospiceCare and Skaalen Heritage Center 3 for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 N. at Jackson St.
(608) 873-4590

William "Bill" Bates

December 12, 1934 - August 30, 2026

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