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William Compton Obituary
William Compton, 93, Howard, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 7, 2015. He was born in Green Bay, WI on August 27, 1921 to Bert and Lucille Compton, and was the 2nd oldest of 16 children. On July 5, 1941 William married the love of his life, Dorothy Jacobson. Together they raised 12 beautiful children, and created a massive, loving family full of countless grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
William "Barnacle Bill" Compton served for the United States Navy from February 1944 to October 1945. He served as a submariner aboard the US-374 Loggerhead Submarine during World War II in the Pacific Ocean. William took enormous pride in the years he served with the Navy, and cherished sharing his experience and stories from those years with others. He grew into the nickname Barnacle Bill after singing countless sailor rhymes from the war to his 12 children, and continued to sing them to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. He took great pride in being part of a 5 generation family that has served and protected the United States of America in every major war since World War I.
After his years in the Navy, William worked as a millwright for Northern Paper Mill for 32 years. He also worked as a tree trimmer for several years. He loved to play softball, shoot pool, bass fish, and the Green Bay Packers. In his early retirement years, he enjoyed spending time at Ranch Lake with his wife, children and grandchildren. He adored bringing his grandchildren on rides on the three-wheeler, Big Red, and taking rides on the pontoon boat. Bill loved the outdoors, and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons. In his later years, he loved to entertain, sing old sailor songs, tell stories, and visit with his wife and large family.
He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Dorothy; 12 children, Tom (Donna) Compton, Randy (Shirley) Compton, Larry (Judy) Compton, Peggy Hodgson, Sue (Grant) Wery, Janis Roberts, Barb (John) Salscheider, Luann (Todd) Schmechel, Beverly Salscheider, Rocky (Diane) Compton, Dennis (Michelle) Compton and Kathy (Mike) DeNiel.
31 grandchildren, Jeanne (Chuck) Ackley, Craig (Karen) Compton; Brenda (Dave) Cooke; Candy (Tim) Blaney, Brian (Jenny) Compton, Paula (Jeff) LaSage, Roxie (Mike) Conroy; Don (Lyric) Hodgson, Jackie (Victor) Marrero, Denise (John) Luby, Shane (Becky) Hodgson, Christina Hudson, Megan (Jason) Beltrand; Grant (Joan) Wery; Jed (Laura) Compton, Kim (Chris) Charniak; Brent (Brenda) Salscheider, Stephanie (Steve) Kurek, John Jr (Rebecca) Salscheider, Joey (Morgan) Salscheider; Jason (Suzanne) Schmechel, Jenny (Jaime) Melotte; Angela (Nick) Deja, Brandon (Bucky) Salscheider; Eric (Jean) Compton, Adam (Sarah) Compton, Jill (Zach) Montie; Cora (Micky) Zbieroski, Josh (April) Compton, Matt (Nicole Goebel) Compton and Carrie DeNiel; 52 great-grandchildren, Madison and Mercedes Ackley, Mitch (Sarah) Compton, Casey and Spencer Compton; Brandon and Alex Blaney, Jacob Compton, Casandra (Justin) Buell, Bailey and Evan LaSage, Sydney Conroy; Zachary, Regan and Hannah Hodgson, Symantha, Sandra and Selena Marrero, Emily, Bridgett, Jaclyn and Johnny Luby, Olivia and Ava Hodgson, Amelia Hudson, Gavin Beltrand; Brittany, Hayle and Emily Wery, Briana Compton, Cody Compton, Hunter Compton, Logan and Billy Kocha; Lily, Katelyn and Emma Salscheider, Ava and Mattek Salscheider; Mya Salscheider, Drew, Dylan and Paige; Hailey and Braxton Montie; Trevor Zbieroski, Logan, Samara and Ashton Compton, McKayla Goebel and Levi Compton, Kaiden DeNiel; two great-great-grandchildren, Haiden Compton, Benjamin Kulkoski; seven siblings: Bert Compton and Helga, Harold (Germaine) Compton, Betty Ozarowicz, Joyce (Floyd) Bessert, Carol Baetsen, Mary Garrity, George (Diana) Compton; two sisters-in-law, Barbra Compton and Nancy Compton; two brothers-in-law, Don Vannieuwenhoven and Bob Gross.
Preceded in death by a son, Bill "Tuffy" Compton; a son-in-law, Sid Hodgson; a granddaughter, Katie Jo DeNiel; a great-great-granddaughter, Isabelle Compton; three infant siblings, Clarence, Joseph and Beverly; three sisters, Bernardine Ozarowicz, Bernice Klimczyk, Ella Vannieuwenhoven; two brothers, Jim Compton, Dick Compton; four sisters-in-law, Arleen Compton, Gladys Compton, Carol Jacobson, Marjorie Gross; seven brothers-in-law, Andy Ozarowicz, Emil Klimczyk, Ray Ozarowicz, Ron Garrity, George Jacobson, Dick Jacobson, Roger Jacobson.
Friends may call at Blaney Funeral Home, 1521 Shawano Ave., from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. A Sharing of Memories will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fort Howard Memorial Park. To send online condolences, please go to www.BlaneyFuneralHome.com.
The Compton family thanks Bellin Hospitalist, Dr. John MacDonald; Dr. Isabel Ditchen; the staff of Heartland Hospice, especially, Tricia, Heidi, Bonnie and Abbey; and his loving family who remained at his side.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for William Compton
Nick Nichols
February 14, 2015
To the Compton Family,
On behalf of the Charleston Base SUBVETS and Swamp Fox Chapter SUBVETS WWII, I offer you our sincere condolences on Bill's passing. We grieve with you on the loss of your loved one and all SUBVETS and their families have your family in our thoughts and prayers. There is no expiration date on the back of our dolphins and Bill will always be remembered as a Brother of the Phin, a member of our Greatest Generation, and a great Patriot.
MOMMFN(SS) William Compton
US Navy WWII Submarine Veteran
Now on Eternal Patrol
Sailor Rest Your Oar
Your Shipmates Have The Watch
Fair Winds and Following Seas Shipmate
Charleston Base Submarine Veterans
Nick Nichols, Base Chaplain
Ann Le Mere
February 12, 2015
Prayers and deepest symphony to Dorothy, Luann (Todd) Schmechel, Beverly Salscheider and Kathy (Mike) DeNiel for the loss of a great father/man. I will always remember spending the not and seeing him before bed to make sure we were quit and behaved his smiling face in the morning and the love he always showed for your mother. Bless you all, Ann Le Mere
February 11, 2015
I remember Dot and bill being our neighbors on cty, J in Suamico. Wonderful people, both of them.Dot may not remember me, I was the little freckled face Peterson Girl, daughter to Annie and Alfred Peterson. God Bless you.
Jan and John Dill-Shipley
February 10, 2015
Bev, Tom and Donna, so sorry to read about your father. We send our hugs and prayers from Gulf Shores,AL.
George & Kathy Smullen
February 10, 2015
Sympathy and prayers to this wonderful family. Bill was a great, great man! But you already know that
Joanne Ripley
February 10, 2015
To Tom, Sue, Luann and the entire Compton Family. My deepest heartfelt symphany and condolences for your loss.
February 9, 2015
Tom, Donna and family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
Dennis & Sandy Gorecki
Hoes Family
February 9, 2015
Our prayers are with the family as we have lost a wonderful neighbor
Mary Lou Basche
February 9, 2015
My prayers and sympathy to the Compton family
Red & Carol Colleran
February 9, 2015
Tom & Donna sorry for your loss
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