June 30, 2014 Calumet
William (Bill) Darnell Sr., 64, a resident of Laurium passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 30, 2014.
He was born on June 29, 1950 in Detroit, a son to William and Margaret (Butala) Darnell. When Bill was three years old his father died. Afterward his mom married Wilmer Wilmers who raised Bill as his own son. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Wilmers and brother Mark Wilmers.
Bill was a graduate of Hancock High School with the class of 1969.
On September 11, 1971 he was united in marriage to Jacqueline White in the Laurium United Methodist Church.
For 30 years Bill worked for the State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission, retiring as a manager.
Bill was always there for all of his family and friends to do whatever was needed or asked of him, especially if the request came from his children. Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, four wheeling, going to the casino, and playing cards with his buddies - to name a few. Bill was a fabulous cook and was known to have a sweet tooth, with candy always nearby. Bill was a jack-of-all-trades who could fix anything. He enjoyed caring for his household plants and feeding the birds and deer. Bill was a talented artist and passed on his skills to his children and grandchildren.
Bill loved the time he spent with his grandchildren. He enjoyed having them stay with him at the camp, hunting and four wheeling. He enjoyed teaching them how to golf, fish and hunt. He loved watching his grandchildren at their sporting events. They could always count on him to just be “Grampa” full of lots of love and hugs.
He was a fan of the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and Green Bay Packers.
He was a member of the Calumet Golf Course where his infectious, loud laugh could be heard across the course. He was a very active member of the Keweenaw Camp Classic Organization where he served countless hours bringing Keweenaw area deer hunters together on an annual basis for lots of deer hunting stories and the ultimate benefit of providing winter feed for the Keweenaw deer population. He was a member of the Keweenaw Splake Association. He also was a past member of the Millers Lanes Bowling League. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Church.
Surviving are his wife Jacqueline “Jackie” Darnell, son Bill Jr. (Joan) Darnell of Calumet and their children Valerie, Rachel, Allison, Billy and Juliana, daughter Darlene (Scott) Thoresen of DePere, WI and their children Samantha, Danielle, and Michael, and daughter Michele (Jason) Forgette of Green Bay, WI and their children Jackson and Grant. He is also survived by his brother Jimmy Darnell of Calumet, sister Sally (Mark) Koppana of Point Mills, father and mother-in-law Weldon and Genevieve White of Calumet, and numerous sister and brother-in-laws, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, July 5th 2014 from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 PM with Fr. Corbin Eddy to officiate assisted by Deacon Art Stancher. A luncheon will follow the service.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online condolences can be left for the family at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
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