William "Bill" Hubbell Aspinwall

We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Gunderson Funeral Home - Fitchburg

Dear family of Bill, My condolences on the death of Bill. He was a valued friend of my late father, Roger Miller. After my dad's death he & Joan remained friends of our our family - showing care & friendship. I remember being impressed that he used his Ham Radio skills to have one of the 1st mobile phones! Thank you all for the care & friendship you have shown our family through the years. (We are unable to join you in person to celebrate his life, but will be with you in spirit.) Mary Anne Miller Reed

I worked with Bill at the State Dept. of Admin-Procurement. Bill was always so pleasant and kind to me. Accept this tree in remembrance of Bill.

Bill was a remarkable man, very humble and honorable. I was very grateful to have known him for the past two years. As a part of Divine Mercy Parish Care Team, I visited Bill and his cat Alexa weekly. Bill was quite a conversationalist and shared many of his life stories. He talked about his family, enlisting in the USAF during the Korean War, radio school at Scott Air Force Base, Air National Guard service as master sergeant head of communications at Truax, work as a State Patrol dispatcher, career as a purchasing agent for State of Wisconsin, snow bird travels with Joan to Arizona in the motorhome, camping with the family, and serving as Exalted Ruler at the Elks Lodge. We exchanged stories of growing up, my stories about farm life, and his adventures on Lake Wingra with his brother, and partner in crime, Pete. Since Bill's father was ticket manager for UW Badgers, he and Pete went to many Badger football games, even traveled with the team to the Rosebowl twice! Bill's international travels took him to England, France, Germany, and Panama. Being a history buff, I was fascinated to know that he crossed the English Channel in a WWII D-day landing craft! He visited the Normandy beaches, concentration camps, Hitler's bunker, and the Panama Canal. He told me that his distant relative, William Henry Aspinwall, built the Panama Canal railroad that linked Pacific and Atlantic coasts, half a century before the canal was built! Bill was a lifelong amateur two-way radio operator. His amateur radio club set up emergency communications in Barneveld after the 1984 tornado. They also provided communications for the annual MS Society Best Dam Bike tour. In 1957, Bill and other ham radio operators could follow the audible radio signal of the passing Sputnik satellite. Bill told me every week how much he enjoyed our visits and I'd tell him the same thing! I looked forward to our time together as I know he did. Our discussions revealed a lot about each other over time, and he became a close friend. My life has truly been enriched from our special relationship. He will be missed. Jan Statz

In honor of my friend, Bill. I was very grateful to have known him.

With heartfelt condolences,