William R. Colombe

1933 - 2025

William R. Colombe

January 9, 1933 - August 21, 2025

KENOSHA - William R. "Bill" Colombe, 92, of Kenosha, Wisconsin passed away on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at Hospice Alliance in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Bill is the son of the late John and Helen (nee Mehegan) Colombe. He was born on January 9, 1933 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. After living in San Diego, California for a couple of years, he moved to Kenosha during 1945 and then to the Town of Paris in Kenosha County during 1946.

After graduating from Wilmot High School, Bill proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Hokkaido, Japan.

Bill married Doris (nee Kreuscher) in 1952. They have two children -- Debbie (Mike) Snodgrass and Tim (Marge) Colombe.

Bill was very proud of his family. He and Doris have four grandsons: Mark (Amy) Snodgrass, Eric (Jordan Wolf) Snodgrass, Chris Colombe and Andy (Jenna) Colombe, four great granddaughters: Nora, Maggie, Rylie and Brooke Snodgrass and a great grandson, George Colombe.

Bill was a journeyman electrician for more than 40 years. For many years, he worked for Rohling Electric and Preston Electric, both small electrical contractors that specialized in residential work. He also worked on the construction of UW Parkside and the Pleasant Prairie Power Plant. In later years, Bill founded Colombe Electric which primarily performed residential work. Bill was an active and proud member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).

Bill and Doris were long time members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Union Grove. When they moved from the Town of Paris to the north side of Kenosha in 2005, they became members of Messiah Luthern Church in Kenosha.

Bill served his community as Treasurer of the Paris Consolidated School and as Building Inspector for the Town of Paris.

Bill and Doris enjoyed socializing with their many friends and going to fish fries most every Friday evening with Dick and Muriel Murdoch and Lloyd and Wilma Baumgart. Bill also enjoyed gardening, reading and singing with the Snap-On Male Chorus and the St. Catherine's Commons Chorus. He volunteered at many places with "RSVP of Kenosha County".

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, parents, in laws Roy and Myra Kreuscher, sisters Beverly (George) Klose and Arlene (Rod) Peterson, brothers Tom (Beverly) and John (Susie) Colombe and sister in law Arlene (Gene) Badtke.

A visitation will take place at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2026 22nd Ave., Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Friday, August 29, 2025 from 10:00 AM until the time of memorial service at 11:30 AM. Interment in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery will take place at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Messiah Lutheran Church and the Kenosha Public Museum.