William Eggenberger

William “Bill” Eggenberger was a fun loving yet logical person. He was organized to the point of being meticulous at the same time that he could bust out a laugh over a practical joke. He took pride in everything he did, most notably, being the father and grandfather of his wonderful children and grandchildren.

William was born April 21, 1949 at a time of optimism in American life, when a war-weary nation was recovering from WWII. Growth in industry and jobs gave workers the opportunity to build homes and start families that launched the baby boom era. The Lionel and Jane Eggenberger family was certainly part of that boom, with William being the second of ten children. While his mother was very busy at home, his father supported the family through his work at Ford Motor Company.

Growing up, Bill pursued many interests. He was on his high school swim team, he played accordion and was expert at working on cars. His most cherished car was a Ford Mustang Mach 1. What else, considering its sporty design and his father’s employment?

Bill graduated from Thurston High School and entered the military during the Vietnam War. Given the unpopularity of the draft and the war itself, he was still proud of his service to his country. After his discharge, he went to work for Ford Motor Company as a millwright at the Livonia Transmission plant and was a proud member of UAW Local 182. With his mechanical skills and Ford Motor’s history with his family, it wasn’t surprising that Bill stayed with the company for 35 years. He worked hard and lived by his own rule: "Do it right or don't do it all."

Bill was married three times, and though the relationships did not last, he counted himself fortunate to be the father of five. He would do anything to spend time with his kids and was happy to do whatever they enjoyed. He took them camping in Northern Michigan for fishing on Higgins Lake and Proud Lake. Bill was once the proud winner of the prestigious "PIBMT", the family fishing tournament.

Bill also enjoyed deer hunting, especially witnessing his son Bob score his first! Bill and his family camped locally at Waldenwoods Resort, where he often stayed the weekend and commuted to work from Hartland, Michigan. As for indoor sports, Bill played pool in his basement and was a master at shooting darts. He once threw eight bullseyes in a row!

Of all his past times, Bill’s favorite was hosting all his children at his home for any holiday. He always did the cooking, whether it was baking a turkey, frying fish and chips (preferably the fish he caught) or grilling his favorite BBQ ribs on charcoal—the only way to BBQ, according to Bill. Even though he might be busy hosting at the family gatherings, he was sure to find time to play tailgate toss and ladder ball with the kids. He had a particular soft spot for his grandchildren, who added immense joy to his life.

Later in life, Bill took up golf and quickly became a fanatic. If he wasn’t on the course himself, he was likely watching Golf Tournaments on TV. He also liked to bowl, he enjoyed a variety of music, and each week he looked forward to conquering the newspaper crossword puzzle.

Bill liked to have fun and wasn’t above pulling off a practical joke or two. He had a way of making funny observations and was good at zinging one-liners every now and again. His quotes could be taken humorously or seriously, like "Use your head for more than just a hat rack" and “Measure twice, cut once.” When asked if he wanted anything, he often replied," Yes, a 10-pound bag of thousand dollar bills." And this one, every child has heard from the wage-earner of the family: "Close the damn door! I’m not paying to heat the outside."

Raised as a Catholic, though not a member of any particular church as an adult, Bill was still a spiritual person. He had his own relationship with God—a comfort to those who mourn and miss their beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

William Eggenberger, age 63, died Sunday, March 3, 2013. Loving Father of Stacey (Rip) Repotski, Jessica (Jason) Miller, Robert (Jennifer), Meagan, and Erica. Dearest Grandfather of Rip and Zoe Repotski, Robert Eggenberger and Phoebe Miller. Dear Brother of Mary, Sue, John, Mike, Peter, Matt, Jeff, Tim, and Tom. Dearest nephew of Joan Wagar as well as Bill and Lois Eggenberger. Funeral Service Thursday 11:30AM at L.A. Turowski and Son Life Story Funeral Home, 9300 Middlebelt, Livonia, MI (North of Joy Rd). Visitation Wednesday 2-9PM. Please sign guest book at neely-turowski.com