William C. Austin

William Clare Austin, 77, of Beloit, WI, passed away on March 26, 2026, in Beloit, WI.

He was born on January 26, 1949, in Janesville, WI, to Russell and Ivadine Austin. He grew up in Beloit and graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1967.

After high school, Bill attended UW Oshkosh for one year and then enrolled in the Electronic Computer Programming Institute, where he earned a certificate in computer programming. He married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Devlin, on June 21, 1969. They were married for 56 years.

He entered the Air Force in September of 1969 and served for eight years as a radar specialist and a computer programmer. After leaving the Air Force, he and Jackie moved back to Beloit with their two children to be near family.

When Bill and Jackie moved back to Beloit, Bill earned his associate's degree in accounting from Blackhawk Technical College. He worked in accounting for a couple of years before moving into the restaurant business, where he was a manager at Pizza Hut and Happy Joe's (which then led to his children's love of pizza, which still endures today). He started his own restaurant in Janesville, Wisconsin, called Blue Ribbon Broasted Chicken and Fish, which was open for 10 years. Bill and Jackie were co-owners of the Puttery mini golf and batting cages for 15 years. Bill worked for Dane County Job Services before transferring to the Department of Revenue, where he retired after twenty years.

Bill enjoyed coaching Michelle and Russ in their various sporting events. He found great joy in spending time with his family and especially his grandchildren, Morgan, Nate, Maclain, and Griffin. He never missed an activity they were involved in. After retirement, Bill and Jackie loved to travel and spent a couple of months in Florida each year. Bill loved to cook and was a master at grilling. His grandchildren always looked forward to his famous garlic bread. Bill loved playing golf at Krueger Haskell Golf Course and, in later years, golfed with the 9 o'clock Darwin Group. One of his fondest memories was when his family gifted him tickets to the Master's and the NCAA Men's Division 1 Championship game in Atlanta to be shared with his son, Russ. In his younger years, Bill played in several softball leagues. He also spent time refereeing basketball and umpiring baseball. After retiring, Bill and Jackie volunteered for Meals on Wheels. Bill was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Beloit.

He is survived by his spouse, Jackie Austin; his two children, Michelle (Dan) Carter, Russ (Alexis) Austin; his four grandchildren, Morgan (Zach) Ryan, Nate Carter, Maclain and Griffin Austin; and cousin Mary (Eric) Stelter.

He was preceded in death by his parents and Charles and Rose Devlin (in-laws).

A Memorial service for Bill will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 749 Bluff Street, Beloit, WI, with Lay Pastoral Assistant Jean Lincoln officiating. Internment will be at East Lawn Cemetery. Visitation of remembrance will be from 9:45 a.m. until 10:45 a.m. Saturday in the church. Daley Murphy Wisch & Associates Funeral Home and Crematorium, 2355 Cranston Rd., Beloit, WI, assisted the family with arrangements.

Bill was very passionate about supporting disabled veterans' programs. In lieu of flowers, the family has chosen that memorial gifts will be used to support disabled veterans.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the VA clinic in Janesville and the VA Hospital in Madison for the wonderful care he received over the years.

Bill will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him, especially by his family and lifelong friends.