William E. Fotsch

Fotsch, William E. Of Elm Grove, passed away at home on April 13, 2011, at the age of 80. Bill was born November 28, 1930, in Chicago, to William G. and Colleen Fotsch. He attended Catholic grade school and attended public high school in Skokie, Illinois. Bill became the first member of his family to attend college, studying Engineering at the University of Notre Dame graduating in 1952. In September 1954 he married Geraldine V. Dodge, who was his loving wife for 56 years. Bill served his country in the Army from 1955 to 1957. He started his career as an engineer at Kearney & Trecker. Bill left Kearney & Trecker to start his own tool and die company in South Bend, Indiana. As the business grew he relocated it to West Allis in the old Kearney & Trecker building on 68th and National. Bill enjoyed working in the yard, and being the neighborhood critic. He was a quiet, but impactful philanthropist. Bill loved his family, dear friends, Notre Dame (not always in that order), and was very proud of his family, which he considered "The Best". Bill and Geri instilled in their family daily, a spirit best encapsulated by their favorite mantra, "to whom much is given, much is expected". He is survived by his wife, Geri; eight children, Bill (Joy) of Villa Hills, KY, Dick (Amy) of Sheboygan Falls, WI, Ed (Deb) of Sausalito, CA, Colleen (Pat) Lawton of Oconomowoc, WI, Bob (Sandy) of Mooresville, NC, Don (Kate) of Palo Alto, CA, Jim (Barb) of Sussex, WI and Tom (Dea) of Brookfield, WI; 30 grandchildren, CJ, Will and Ben (Lauren) Fotsch; Jenny (Chad) Austino, Alison and Timothy Fotsch; Mackenzie, Alex, Nick and Spencer Fotsch; Andy, Chris, Shannon and Matt Lawton; Brittany, Candice, Jaclyn and Lauren Fotsch; Colleen, DJ, Shawn, Connor, Kelly and Caitlin Fotsch; AJ, Dani and JP Fotsch and Andy, Maria and Sarah Fotsch. Visitation will be held Monday, April 25, at the Funeral Home from 4:30PM until 7:00PM. In keeping with the deceased's strong belief that one should never be too early to mass, the funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, April 26, at 11:00 AM, at St. Jerome's Catholic Church in Oconomowoc, WI. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Clinical Cancer Center of Froedtert Hospital or the Elm Grove EMS (Emergency Medical Services). "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it was a good run." Godspeed Pa.