William "Bill" Becker

William "Bill" James Becker

1930 - 2017

William "Bill" James Becker passed away Jan. 15, 2017, in Verona, Wis. Bill was on born April 28, 1930, in Waukesha County Wisconsin to William P. and Mildred (Shaver) Becker.

He graduated from Waukesha High School in 1948 and attended the University of Wisconsin where he received both a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Agriculture. He also obtained his commission as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Bill then taught Vocational Agriculture for ten years. During this time, he was instrumental in changing a structured four-year program into various semester courses allowing students to select a program specialized to their own interests and needs. Following this, Bill attended the Ohio State University where he obtained his Ph.D. in Vocational and Adult Education.

He then served as Director of Research & Planning at Gateway Technical Institute in Kenosha, WI. In 1978, he taught at the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. He served as the state-wide extension safety specialist during this time, retiring in 1994 as Professor Emeritus.

Bill was most proud of his children and their successes. He was the first in the Becker family to become a college graduate, and now his children, their spouses, and all grandchildren are college graduates.

Bill is survived by his four children, Diane (Robert) Sewell, Kathy (Calvin) Boswell, Duane (Barb) Becker and Karen (Robert) Millholland; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Bill is further survived by one sister, Doris (Russell) Ehnert, and their four children; his former wife Janet (Nelson) Hermann; and step-children Penny (Jeffery) Marks, Sid (Belinda) Harrison, and Dawn Cusomano.

Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Bernice Scott Becker and companion, Bernice Harrison.

A gathering will take place from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017, at Sugar River United Methodist Church, 415 Verona Ave., Verona, WI, 53593 with a memorial service to follow at 2 p.m. Bill will be brought to his final place of rest at Oaklawn Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida at a later date. Please share your memories at www.CressFuneralService.com.

Memorials in Bill's honor are appreciated to Sugar River United Methodist Church, Heartland Hospice (https://heartlandhospicefund.org/donate/), or the Alzheimer's and Dementia Alliance of Wisconsin (http://www.alzwisc.org/Donate.htm).



Cress Center

6021 University Ave.

Madison, WI 53705

608-238-8406