Bill Nolan

MADISON/WAUNAKEE-Bill Nolan, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, joined his beloved Doris in heaven on Saturday, Jan.17, 2009. He was born in Corona, N.Y., on March 31, 1923, to William and Rose Nolan. He attended St. Clements School, South Ozone Park, N.Y., Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn and graduated from Mineola High School in 1941. In 1946, he married the love of his life, Doris Fries, in Blessed Sacrament Church in Jackson Heights, N.Y. They shared 57 wonderful years together until her death in 2003. Bill was a career Army officer. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 at age 19, shortly after Pearl Harbor. During World War II, he spent two years in Europe in an artillery battalion attached to General George Pattons 3rd Army. His unit participated in the invasion at Normandy and was with the 3rd Army all across Europe, ending the war in Czechoslovakia. He was the recipient of several medals of honor for his military service. Bill returned to the U.S. in 1945 and spent the remainder of his 26 years of service in the U.S., between overseas tours to Japan in 1950, Taiwan in 1955 and Greenland in 1965. After his retirement in 1968, Bill and Doris and their five children relocated from New York to Madisons East side, where they lived for nearly 30 years. They had many beautiful memories of those years, watching their children and family grow. Bill worked for First Wisconsin Bank (now US Bank) as manager of the Cottage Grove Road office, retiring in 1985. Bill enjoyed leisurely rides on his pontoon boat, taking drives, winter trips to Florida, and family gatherings and celebrations. He and Doris were active members of St. Dennis Catholic Church for many years. Bill was past president of the Holy Name Society as well as the Parish Pastoral Council and also served as chairman of the annual festival. Bill also did volunteer work at Karmenta Nursing Home. Whenever there was a need for volunteers, Bill and Doris were always first in line to offer their help. They were also actively involved in the Madison Schoenstatt Family Movement and were the Diocesan Leader Couple for three years. During their tenure, to promote family recitation of the Rosary, Bill and Doris and another Schoenstatt couple took the Pilgrim Shrine of the Mother Thrice Admirable to every parish in the Diocese of Madison, visiting 140 parishes and covering a distance of 4,000 miles. In 1997, they sold their house in Madison and moved to a condo in Waunakee, where they joined St. Mary of the Lake Congregation. Bill loved his wife, his family, his God, the Blessed Mother and his country. He was truly a member of the "greatest generation," a principled man with ample supplies of faith, strength and character. He was most proud of his children and his adored grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is survived by the family who loved him dearly, two sons, Father Bill Nolan, and Tim (Diane) Nolan; three daughters, Kathi (Tom) Quinn, Patti (Dave) Lorbecki, and Janet (Kevin) Masters; seven granddaughters, Jennifer (Tim) Stelse, Cari (special friend Phil Kazik) Lorbecki, Andrea (Joel) Zimmerman, Erin Quinn, Caitlin (Mike) Beutler, and Madeline and Laurel Masters; and four great-grandchildren, Hannah, Owen and Molly Stelse, and Attison Zimmerman. Granddaughter, Andrea and her husband, Joel were looking forward to introducing Bill to his fifth great-grandchild, due this March. He is further survived by his sister, Rosemary Wilenski; and many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by Doris; his parents; his brother, Edward; and an infant son, James Michael. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, at 10:30 a.m., at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 505 Dempsey Road, Madison, with Father Bill Nolan officiating and Father Kent Schmitt concelebrating. Burial will follow in Highland Memory Gardens, with full military rites, where Bill will be laid to eternal rest beside Doris. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2009, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, where a Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Friends may also call from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services on Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation on Bills behalf to St. Dennis School or the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary, both of which he wholeheartedly supported. A special thanks to our brother Bill for being a devoted caregiver to Dad. We are certain his day-to-day presence in Dads life the last 16 months allowed us more time with him. The family also extends our gratitude to the nursing and pastoral staffs at St. Marys Hospital for their compassionate care during those final hours. The world has lost a good and decent man. But Jesus came to him and said, "Well done, Bill, my good and faithful servant. Take my hand and I will lead you to paradise." Dad, enjoy with Mom the heavenly reward you so deserve; we are happy you are together again for eternity, as it should be. Continue to watch over all of us until we see you again. We will love you and miss you always.