William Johnston Jordan

VERONA - William Johnston Jordan, age 97, of Verona, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at SSM Health-St. Mary's Hospital. He was born on Sept. 9, 1924, in Ireland, the son of Johnston and Elizabeth "Elsie" (McMechan) Jordan. He married Brenda Foster on Feb. 2, 1950, in England.

Bill’s passion in life was wildlife. He was highly respected throughout the world for his continual achievements and work to oppose and alleviate all forms of cruelty to wildlife. In the early days, Dr. Jordan, better known as Bill, established his own veterinary practice outside Chester, having previously lectured in the field at Liverpool University. Then in 1964, he became consultant veterinary clinician to the government of Iran and also vet to the Shah. From Iran, he moved to Pretoria University, South Africa, and from there back to Britain where his work with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals began first as deputy vet and later as head of the wildlife department, which he founded. He also founded the Wild Animals Advisory Committee and the Animal Experimentation Advisory Committee, where he became a council member and later vice president.

Bill's concern for wild animals was not just confined to Britain. As founder of the charity Care for the Wild, he had made the conservation and welfare of wildlife abroad, particularly in Africa and Asia, a focus of attention. He was awarded the Queen Victoria silver medal in 1995 for his work. In 2005, he was awarded the Richard Martin award, the highest award of the RSPCA. In the same year, he was awarded an OBE for his work for conservation and animal welfare, which was presented to him by Queen Elizabeth II. On Aug. 3, 2015, he officially became a U.S. citizen.

Bill is survived by his children, Sheena (Donald) Bliss of Verona and their four children, Sheen Marie (Patrick) Kelter of Verona and their two children, Emory and Elsie, Jonathan “JJ” (Kelly) Bliss of Naperville, Ill. and their two children, CJ and Will, Jordan Bliss of Verona and her two children, Landyn and Lenyx, and Katie (Casey) Koenig of Prairie du Sac and her son, Calvin and one on the way; son, Richard William Jordan of Cape Coral, Fla. and his two children, Cole and Casey; son, Christopher Johnston (Leslie) Jordan of Waunakee and their two children, Hannah and Morgan, and mother of Cole and Casey, Sherry Jordan of Madison. He was preceded in death by his wife, Brenda; and his parents.
 

A celebration gathering will be held at GUNDERSON WEST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 7435 University Ave., Middleton from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022, with a luncheon at the funeral home.
 

Memorials may be made to The Bill Jordan Wildlife Defense Fund USA, P.O. Box 46250, Madison, WI 53744-6250. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.