Bill Shassere

William Glenn Shassere, 87, died peacefully in his home on Friday, October 24, 2025. Bill was a loving husband, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and treasured friend to many around the world.

William was born on November 19, 1937 to Joseph Glenn and Louise (Scott) Shassere in Terre Haute, Indiana. He excelled in football at Garfield High school and then at Indiana State University and would later continue his love for the game as coach at Plymouth High school where he still kept in touch with many of his players/students. He married the love of his life, June (Knight) on July 27, 1963, when they embarked on a life filled with travel and adventure, meeting forever friends and collecting warm memories along the way. June sadly preceded him in death in December 2021.

Bill had a lifelong love for learning and teaching, and was also a prolific writer. His love for poetry led him to publishing a collection of his poems, odes and short stories in 2024 titled simply 'WGS'. His passion for fishing led to owning a retail store called "Outdoor Sportsman" located in Carmel Indiana, and through the years he served as a guide on annual fishing trips to Canada where his nickname "The Legend", was inspired either from his skill at fishing or perhaps more from his skill at telling tall tales. Bill also served in city government as Director of Indianapolis Public Works, and on retirement he landed a consulting position in Russia to aid their conversion to a free market system. Bill and June also lived and worked in Prague, England and Brazil, and with their lifelong passion for travel experienced many different cultures, traditions and sights around the world.

After June's passing, Bill moved to Fort Wayne in the fall of 2023 to be near his only sister Marilyn Lawson, her 4 sons Alan (Janet), Kenneth, Bradley, and Douglas (Alice), and great niece Kathryn (Ricky) Landrum. He enjoyed being with family, and in the 2 short years he lived in FW he established many new close friends through his involvement in the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an Elder, and also through his active participation in his neighborhood association where he enjoyed an ever expanding community of friends.

This man yearned to keep a full social calendar and combined with his faith in God, his love for people and his many gifts, Bill gave freely of his time, treasure and talents. As in Matthew 25:14-30 - "His Lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter into the joy of your Lord.'". Rest in peace, dear Bill. You are greatly missed here on earth.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00pm Tuesday November 11, 2025 in the Chapel at First Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Wayne St. In lieu of flowers, the family's preferred memorials are First Presbyterian Church, online at https://firstpresfortwayne.org or by mail to 300 W. Wayne St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802, and to Parkview Home Health & Hospice, c/o Parkview Foundation of Allen Co., online at https://Parkview.com/foundations, or by mail to 1900 Carew St, Unit 6, Fort Wayne, IN 46805. Arrangements through Divine Mercy Funeral Home, 3500 Lake Ave. Fort Wayne. To share a remembrance of Bill or to offer condolences to the family, please visit DivineMercyFuneralHome.com.