Dr. William J. Sproule

Dr. William "Bill" J. Sproule passed away on July 1, 2025 at Above and Beyond at the Knights assisted living facility in Allentown, PA. He is survived by his wife of 26 years Dr. Dolores (Yaschur). Born June 15, 1937, Bill was the son of the late William and Helen (Eichhorn) Sproule of Coaldale, PA. He was also preceded in death by his first wife Joanne (Pavlick). Bill's lifelong motto was "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." He was tough and he fought until the very end. Bill was born in Lansford, PA and later moved to Coaldale, PA where he graduated from Coaldale High School in 1955. He earned varsity letters in football, baseball, basketball and track and was co-captain of the football team. He also played American Legion baseball for Coaldale and Lansford and worked as head life guard at the Panther Valley Recreational Center pool. Following high school, Bill played both varsity football and baseball at the Valley Forge Military Academy. He then accepted a four-year football scholarship to Syracuse University. He was a letter winner and member of the 1958 Orange Bowl and the 1959 Cotton Bowl National Championship Football Teams playing both offensive guard and defensive linebacker positions. He received the Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award his senior year and graduated in 1960 with a B.S. degree in Physical Education. Bill then served on active duty at Fort Benning, GA and as a Second Lieutenant and Commanding Officer of a battalion unit at Fort Dix, NJ. He continued to play football on the Army Football team and served as Director of the Army Post Football Clinic. Bill went on to coach football, wrestling and baseball at Smithtown High School in NY. He then served as head football, track and baseball coach at Waterville High School in NY. He furthered his education by earning an M.S. degree in Physical Education from Brooklyn College. He did post-graduate work at New York University and received a Director of HPER Certificate from SUNY Cortland, NY. In 1969 he moved to Almedia, PA and was hired as the offensive line football coach at Bloomsburg University. He served as head coach for five years and as an assistant coach for seven years. He was a professor of health and physical education and an administrator of the Department of Athletics and Physical Education. He also served as the head golf coach, assistant wrestling coach and Intramural Director. Bill was a National Red Cross instructor and a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary sailing instructor. He received a U.S. Coast Guard Educational Award and an American Legion Award. While at Bloomsburg University, Bill earned a Doctoral Degree of Higher Education Administration from Penn State University and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Bill created and served as Director of the Adult Fitness Center at Bloomsburg University. He was instrumental in developing the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department at a local hospital in Bloomsburg as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Adult Fitness at Bloomburg University. He was awarded Professor Emeritus status at his retirement from the university. Bill went on to serve as a part-time consultant to numerous school districts and hospitals. In 2005, Bill was inducted into the Carbon County Sports Hall of Fame. In 2024, Bill was also honored by a former football player who established the "Michael C. Betz Football Scholarship in Honor of Coach Bill Sproule" at Bloomsburg University. The scholarship gives preference to a football team lineman who represents the University and the sport in a positive manner. Bill was extremely devoted to his Catholic faith and in particular to St. Anne. Bill served many years as a Eucharistic Minister at both St. Columba Catholic Church in Bloomsburg and St. Joseph the Worker Church in Orefield. Bill was an avid golfer who had several holes-in-one during his many years of playing year-round, no matter the weather. He especially liked playing golf in Ireland where he scored a Hole-In-One at the Killarney Golf Club. He was an international traveler and an avid sailor who sailed in the Atlantic, Pacific and Caribbean oceans. In addition to his loving wife, Dolores, Bill is survived by his children, Ann M. Sproule and her husband, Michael Gordon, Dr. William J. Sproule and his wife, Mary Albert and grandchildren, Benjamin and Ellen, Donna M. Owens and her husband, Kevin and granddaughter, Colleen; stepson, Dr. David Kasarda and his wife, Dr. Marisa Laurora and step grandchildren, Connor and Emily. Bill is also survived by his brother, Charles F. Sproule and his wife, Mary Lou, and several nephews and nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 am. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church, 1879 Applewood Drive, Orefield. Family and friends may pay their respects from 6:00 pm. – 8:00 pm. Wednesday at the Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc., 4906 Route 309, Schnecksville. Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family at the New Rosemont Cemetery in Espy, PA. Online expressions of sympathy may be recorded at www.heintzelmancares.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to "Michael C. Betz Football Scholarship in Honor of Coach Bill Sproule" at Bloomsburg University in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box #196 Schnecksville, PA 18078-0196. To send a flower arrangement in memory of Dr. William J. Sproule, please click here to visit our sympathy store.