William F. "Bill" Meis

1928 - 2021

William F. "Bill" Meis

Marshfield - William F. "Bill" Meis, 92, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at Three Oaks Health Services, Marshfield.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 12, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Marshfield, with Rev. Keith Kitzhaber officiating. The service will be live streamed at www.facebook.com/rembsfuneralhomes. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Marshfield, and serving as pallbearers will be Jeremy Peaslee, Ryan Peaslee, Alex Peaslee, Rebecca Myszka, Sarah Kimou, and Kraig Dotter. The visitation will be from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm with a rosary service at 2:00 pm on Sunday at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield, and from 10:00 am until service time on Monday at Sacred Heart Church.

William was born on August 30, 1928 in Stratton, Colorado, to Frank and Adeline (Friedell) Meis.

Bill was raised on a farm in Nebraska. He married the love of his life, Josephine A. VanErt on January 30, 1951 in Clearwater, Nebraska. She died on December 11, 2008. After service in the Army, he moved his young family to a dairy farm in the Pittsville area. Bill was an innovative farmer, bringing a combine to Wisconsin in 1955. The neighbors thought that was quite something. He was the first in the neighborhood to have a barn cleaner and the first to switch to bulk tank and get rid of milk cans.

Being a dairy farmer was not his favorite type of farming. He always said, "you could never shut those cows off!"

This led him into the business life in Pittsville. He was a school bus contractor with his partner, Ray Johnson, for the Pittsville District. They also owned the Pittsville Lumber Yard together.

Dad put the first laundry mat in town, the first self-serve gas station, and operated the Pittsville Café. In the early 1980s they moved to Marshfield where they owned and operated Parkview Terrace mobile home park.

Through his life he continued to raise beef cattle and always had a farm to look out on and enjoy the view.

He was a hard-working man, but always enjoyed travelling and taking vacations with his wife and family. They traveled to many parts of the world.

He raised his family well and would help his children any way he could. He gave his best to the world and expected others to do the same. He will be greatly missed.

Bill is survived by five daughters and two sons, Mariellen Meis of Toledo, OH, Bev (Tom) Mason of Wisconsin Rapids, Paula Meis of Stratford, Karen (David) Peaslee of Wisconsin Rapids, Janette (Hal) Dotter of Wisconsin Rapids, Steven (Patti) Meis of Stratford, and Ken Meis of Stratford, and Patty Thompson who became a 6th daughter to him during his stay at Stoney River Assisted Living. She could always bring a smile to his face and spent many hours with him becoming a very special, loved companion. She will always hold a special place in the heart of Dad's family for her special warmth and love she had for him. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Jeremy, Kraig, Lisa, Katie, Sarah, Rebecca, Ryan, Alex, Madeline and Audrey and 15 great grandchildren. He is further survived by brothers, Jim (Shirley) Meis of Elgin, NE, and Bob (Mary Lou) Meis of Peoria, IL, and a sister, Jane (Wayne) Reed of Littleton, CO and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his twin sister Wilma in infancy, his wife Josephine and a sister DeLoris Jackson.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Stoney River Assisted Living, Three Oaks Health Services and Heartland Hospice for the care and compassion shown to Dad.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com