William Dykstra

I learned of Bill's passing from the IU alumni magazine this month. We enjoyed one another's company on numerous occasions as my travels as a school of business development officer took me to Grand Rapids, and we also connected on the occasion of the school's annual business conference. Bill drove an old Chrysler mini-van with nearly 200,000 miles on it and was worried not a wit that it would get him from Grand Rapids to Indianapolis for the conference and the chance to meet other alumni,...

Hi Bill,
Sorry I didn't make work of visiting with you recently. Herb kept be informed. I'll always remember our weekend trips and boatyard visits to the coast and throughout Michigan with Billy, Mary, Shelley or Mike. We covered a lot of ground and always, always found something to talk about. And then there were the long evenings at the Grange. Remember the Frank Crevier showing? I wrote you last spring about "Firefly". She sails well and is now being refinished. Thanks for the...

Bill was indeed an interesting gentleman who help me numerous times located boating items. Although this was many years ago, we still kept in touch via interested noted Christmas cards. A great guy.

Bill was such a quality person..always seriously interested in who he was visiting with and how he might help them. He was an extraordinary person and will be sorely missed.

Jim Gunn

We've had the pleasure of working with Bill over the years using Burton L. Norton products and buying antique boat parts from his collection. Bill was unique in his spirit for everything mobile by land or by sea. I always enjoyed our conversations when he'd stop in to the shop on his visits to his Les Cheneaux Islands cottage. His knowledge of antique boat history and operation was vast. We'll miss his visits and our conversations. Our condolences to both Billy and Mary. God Speed Bill. Brad...

I knew of Bill through the antique and classic boat hobby. I got to know Bill much better the past 8 years through a mutual acquaintance. I loved to pick his brain and hear his stories. He was such an interesting person. I feel fortunate to have met him even in his golden years because by that time he had accumulated a lifetime of anecdotes, accomplishments and stories which he was always willing to share. Rest in peace Bill...