William Reeder

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

Katy, So sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. Please know that our thoughts are with you at this difficult time. Priscilla & Cletus

Dear Reeder family, I was so sorry to learn of Bill's death. We had been close friends since the 60s, when I began work in the Special Collections Dept. in Memorial Library. Our personalities and interests were very similar, and together with Joyce, we spent many visits talking of books and libraries. He helped so much in organizing and supporting the Friends of the Library, and his contributions of funds and so many of his own beautiful books were of major importance in the development of the history of science collections. I hadn't seen him lately. I had tried to call him several times in the past three weeks to talk about the recent unfortunate development with the Friends of the Library, but the phone was always busy, so I assumed he was no longer living at home. Your father was a wonderful man and I will always have fond memories of the many times we spent together. I doubt if Joyce will remember me now, but if she should, please give her my sympathy. John Neu

In Memoriam: William “Bill” Reeder When I first met Bill Reeder he was already of an age when many men retire and even then he was rock-star handsome. His manner was intelligently informal and he had longish hair like James Taylor when James still had hair. He had a casual way of using latin binomial nomenclature whether he was talking about a rare species of spiders or common garden plants. This habit of speech came from his lifelong practice of close observation that started as a teenager exploring the deserts of southern California with high school pals looking for (guess what) spiders they had never seen before. I got to know Bill Reeder as a “friend of the library” when I was a UW-Madison library director but he became a friend and role-model who opened my eyes to his way of seeing nature, my work, and the university's role in advancing hands-on learning and discovery. It was through Bill that I learned to love the southwestern U.S.– not as America’s desert but as an exotic landscape teeming with beautiful living things. Bill Reeder had a passionate interest in the way that rare physical objects, specimens, and, yes, books can be used to convey knowledge, understanding, and new insights. It inspired him to devote a significant part of his career and personal wealth to organizations and programs that collect and preserve biological specimens, material culture, and books. Bill was both a product and an exemplar of the best things public research universities do in advancing knowledge, enriching learning, and making discoveries that benefit society. We sometimes call this the “Wisconsin Idea” but Bill carried and expressed these values wherever he worked and taught. Too often these ideals now sound like clichés but Bill Reeder “walked the talk” his entire adult life. Ken Frazier

Dear Katy, Ben, and Family, We were saddened to hear about Bill’s passing. From hearing stories about his adventures over the years, to reading more about his life, it’s clear he lived a full and meaningful one. We’re thinking of all of you and sending our condolences. Jeremy, Aubrey, Leif, and Reid Tollefson