Bill Wallisch

William John Wallisch, Jr.
May 19, 1932 - July 24, 2024
Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church. Bill, 92, is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Betty (nee Hohler), children Bill (Martha), Mimi (Tom) McDonough, Denny (Beth), Rick (Lise), Tim (Randa), Fred (Angela), Tom (Melissa), Fr. Scott, 26 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, sisters, Mary Jo Fox and Ellen Shrake, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by parents Bill Sr. and Marian, stepmother Mary, brothers-in-law Bill Fox and Dan Shrake, sister-in-law Mary Payne, daughter-in-law Kate (Rick).
Visitation Sunday, July 28 4-8pm at Hutchens-Stygar, Mid Rivers; Rosary at 7pm.
Mass of Christian Burial Monday, July 29 11am at St. Joseph - Cottleville.
Bill was born in Buffalo, NY, and lived in several cities in the Northeast and upper Midwest as his dad moved around with General Motors. He was smart and social, had a knack for numbers, and loved being mischievous. He attended University of Detroit before graduating from the University of Minnesota, where he also met and fell in love with Betty Hohler at the Catholic Newman Center. He moved to LA to try to sell a play he and a friend wrote, and ended up working in the aircraft industry. Betty followed him to California after they got married. They lived there briefly before moving back to the Midwest, settling in the St. Louis area, where Bill worked most of his career at McDonnell Douglas. Together they raised a family of 8 children.
Bill loved the Lord and his Faith, and structured his life around prayer and daily Mass. He started praying the Stations of the Cross when his mom was very sick, and continued to find a church every day for over 50 years to pray this devotion. His bad knees late in life were a testament to how much time he spent on them in prayer. He loved Betty and their children, and made so many sacrifices for his family and his kids' education. He imbued in his children the importance of faith, family, education, hard work, charity, and thrift. He was always involved at the parish and local level, whether it was serving those in need through the St. Vincent de Paul Society or bringing Jesus to people through the Men of the Sacred Heart.
Bill loved our country and its freedoms and values. He was passionate about promoting and defending freedoms, with special concern for the unborn, the aged, and people with special needs and disabilities. He was active in politics for much of his life. He was elected to committeeman for the Lewis and Clark Republican Township, and served as an alternate delegate to the 1988 Republican National Convention.
His legacy will include his sly sense of humor, his convictions and the courage to speak up for them, and his love of God, family, and country. He will be greatly missed, but his impact on the world will continue for generations.
In lieu of flowers, Masses preferred, or donations to Birthright STL or Coalition Life.