William 'Bill' Eric Harper

William Eric "Bill" Harper, 74, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on April 18, 1951, gained his angel wings on February 10, 2026, in Fernandina Beach, Florida, surrounded by his family.

Bill was always in the background ensuring others' needs were taken care of. He had a quiet way of making sure everything — and everyone — was looked after. His Christian faith quietly shaped that steady presence, guiding him with humility, gratitude, and strength throughout his life.

He graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1973. His career in food distribution reflected and deepened his lifelong appreciation for fine food, wine, well-crafted cocktails — along with Diet Coke and chocolate!

A self-taught Grill Master, Bill took great pride in perfecting the art of outdoor cooking — from the finest steaks to the highly requested "smoked" Chex Mix. Whether hosting backyard gatherings or experimenting with new recipes, he brought warmth, generosity, and unmistakable flavor to every occasion. His table was always a place of laughter, storytelling, and connection.

Bill shared 34 years of marriage with his wife, Pamela "Pam" (Goddard) Harper, whom he cherished. Together they shared a love of exploring — which was fortunate, as their careers took them from Baraboo, Wisconsin; Cincinnati, Ohio; Brookfield, Wisconsin; Naperville, Illinois; McKinney, Texas; Mandeville, Louisiana; Keller, Texas; Waco, Texas; Irving, Texas; and Flower Mound, Texas — before fulfilling their dream of moving to "The Beach" on Amelia Island. Among his favorite places was the Harper family condo on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Time spent there with family — beach days, shared dinners, and friendly hands of Pitch around the kitchen table — created memories he treasured deeply.

Bill was a passionate IndyCar fan and attended the Indianapolis 500 for nearly 40 years. Through the years, he introduced family and friends to "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing." While Bill introduced Pam to the race, she reciprocated by luring him into becoming both a Cheesehead and a Parrothead — bringing years of Packers football fun and "cheese curds in paradise."

He was the proud father of two sons: Logan (41), from an earlier chapter of his life, and Addison (30), whom he and Pam welcomed together. Through Logan, he was the devoted grandfather — lovingly known as "Pops" — to Mason (8), who brought him immense joy and pride.

He is survived by his brother, Scott (Beverly) Harper of Belmont, Massachusetts. Bill cherished his role as uncle to their children, Ryan (Mary) Harper and Abby Harper, and great-uncle to Ryan and Mary's two children. He also shared a special bond with his sister, Melinda Harper of Evanston, Illinois. Bill was equally grateful for the love and friendship of Pam's sisters and their husbands and families, who became an extended circle of warmth and connection throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Marilyn (Deuben) Harper.
He will be remembered with deep love for his devotion to family and friends, his culinary flair, his playful spirit, and the quiet strength he carried throughout his life.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the organizations he fondly supported or to a charity of your choosing are appreciated:

Finding Freedom through Friendship: finding-freedom-through-friendship.org
Battles to Blessings Ministries: b2bministries.org

Please join his family for a Celebration of Life to be held on Amelia Island during the weekend of April 18th, 2026. Details are pending and will be forthcoming via family social media. Please reach out to his family if you are planning to attend.