WILLIAM J. "BILL" ANSTETT Sr.

1931 - 2017

William (Bill) J. Anstett, Sr. (85), was born November 16, 1931 in Winsted, CT and passed away March 21, 2017 at home with loved ones by his side after a brief illness. He was predeceased by his parents Frank J. Anstett and Mary R. Anstett (Schenetsky), his brother Richard Anstett, and his wife of 55 years, Judith (Judy) Anstett (Sullivan) who passed away March 21, 2008. He married Judy October 3rd, 1953. He is survived by his sister Carol Anstett; cousins, Anne and Fern Law, Noell S. Gioffre and Larry Sheehan; six children, Rainé Pedersen (Anstett) and husband John, Lynne M. Anstett and Mark Franklin, William Anstett and wife Colleen McGhee, Kevin Anstett, Mary Ruth Carver (Anstett) and husband Stu, and Frank Anstett and wife Michelle; sixteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and many other relatives. A 1950 graduate of The Gilbert School, Bill was a Masonry Contractor in Winsted for more than 50 years and a member of the Improved Order of Red Men Kehoe Tribe in Winsted. He was known for a good story or telling a "fish tale". However, often his stories turned out to be true, such as his account of socializing at the "Stone House" with literary agents Annie Laurie Williams and her husband Maurice Crain, authors John Steinbeck and Harper Lee or having his photograph in Life Magazine. Bill was a country farmer at heart with a passion for vegetable gardening, cooking, fishing and hunting, and raising chickens for their fresh eggs. He enjoyed apple picking, family gatherings, particularly Christmas on Wallens Hill, going dancing with Judy, and any song by Earl and Lester. For others he was mostly known as just plain Bill and as that man in the Cowboy hat. Come celebrate Bill's life with your favorite story and write it down so we can create a book of his life memories. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the First Congregational Church of Barkhamsted, 6 Old Town Road Barkhamsted, CT at 11:00 A.M. A memorial scholarship is being created in his memory. Contributions/donations can be made to: RSD #7 Attn: Agricultural Education, 100 Battistoni Dr. Winsted, CT, 06098. Montano-Shea Funeral Home - Winsted, has care of the arrangements. Visit an online guestbook at www.montano-shea.com