William J. Tacke

William J. Tacke William J. Tacke, 52, of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, died peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007 after a valiant battle with brain cancer. Bill gracefully bore the burdens of his cancer and treatments without a single utterance of complaint or despair, choosing instead to focus on Life's many joys and gifts. Bill was the supervising director and co-founder of Model Team LLC, in Ocean Grove. Growing up primarily in the Omaha area, he began working as an international fashion model in L.A, where he was the last male model hand-picked by fashion mogul Wilhelmina herself. As a model, he worked everywhere from Madrid to Milan to Tokyo and Zurich, and across the U.S. Bill worked for such clients as Calvin Klein, Commes des Garcons, Anna Sui, J. Crew, Lanvin, Macy's, Halston, Gottex and Givenchy. His career also included magazine covers and numerous national commercial print campaigns. His television work included national commercials, appearances on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Laverne and Shirley" and "Happy Days." Bill also served as the ABC Sports national and international "Golden Runner" symbol of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. With John Merriman, Bill directed and co-produced hundreds of shows in New York and across the U.S. for various designers and clients including Abercrombie and Fitch, Weight Watchers, Subaru, Kinney Shoes and Dick Clark Productions. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Asbury Park, N.J. Interment will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7th at Calvary Cemetery, Omaha, Neb. Friends are invited to pay their respects on Tuesday from 6p.m. to 8p.m. at Heafey – Heafey – Hoffman - Dworak – Cutler. A prayer service will begin at 7:00p.m. Bill is preceded in death by his parents Lloyd M. and May L. Tacke. Surviving are his life partner of 22 years, John Merriman of Ocean Grove, New Jersey; his brother, Robert and his wife, Brenda, of Council Bluffs; three sisters, Barbara Tacke, of Council Bluffs, Beth Black and her husband, Phillip, of Omaha, and Burdine Osborn and her husband, Gary, of Council Bluffs; and his nieces and nephews, Stuart and Jeremy Black, Kelsey and Connor Osborn, and Brittany and Bailey Tacke. Bill will be missed by his beloved dogs, Astrid, Buzz, Steffi, Carmen and Robin; he was looking forward to meeting his dogs Greta, Ingrid and Elsa over the Rainbow Bridge. Memorials are suggested to either the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Rd., Des Plaines, Ill. 60018 or to The Heart Ministry Center of Sacred Heart Church, 2222 Binney Street, Omaha, NE 68110.