William "Wild Bill" Simonsen

William "Wild Bill" Simonsen was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, "take charge" attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. William always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, William was an individual who enjoyed life's challenges.

William was born on January 10, 1957 at Lutheran Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. His parents were Richard and Sharon Simonsen. William was raised in Omaha, Nebraska. Always able to express himself well, William possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, William was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, William was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. William was raised with two sisters and five brothers. They were Rick, Jim, Deb, Don, Bob, Diane and Thomas. William had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, William showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. William enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. In his spare time he liked fishing and camping. William's memorable achievements included he survived the ringer washing machine and the electricity on the chicken house.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, William was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Millard High School in 1975. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Friends and acquaintances found William an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. William was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were David Hughs, Matt Kuebler and Carol Dietrich. Later in life, he became friends with Alan, Brian,Dean, Randy, Spider, Monk, Bear and Herby.

William charmed Teri and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, William was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, William identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children's personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. William was blessed with three, Melissa, Celeste and Jens. He was also blessed with 1 Grandchild, Alexis.

William was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, William's strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, William was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. William could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was A Dredge Operator. He was employed for 21 years at Pacesetter Corporation and 12 years at Lyman Richey Corporation.

William enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were riding Harley Davidson Mortor Cycles. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

William was a generous man who prized that same quality in others. So it's little wonder that he was so active and giving in his community. William was a member of several community groups, including serving on committees for the poker runs for various charitible organizations.

William's natural leadership qualities placed him in consideration for public recognition, earning him accolades for his many and varied efforts throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included worlds best dad & brother.

Travel and vacations were experiences that William truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of "live and let live." He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Daytona Bike Week, Orlando FL, and Sturgis, SD.

William was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of William's favorites was Lacey and Precious they were both Shelties. They were best friends for 14 years.

When William's retirement finally came in June 28, 2009, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. In retirement, he found new pleasure in a leasure lifestyle.

William passed away on April 6, 2010 at at his residence in Springfield, Nebraska. William fought a brave battle with Glioblastoma Multiforme Cancer. He is survived by his Children Melissa, Celeste & Jens. Services were held at the Kahler-Dolce Mortuary, Papillion, Nebraska. William was laid to rest in Voss Mohr cemetery, Omaha Nebraska.

William was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If William had a theme song written about him, it might well have been "Don't Worry, Be Happy." He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember William "Wild Bill" Simonsen.