I was deeply honoured when Kathy asked me to write a eulogy for Bill. It can be very difficult to put your feelings into words when you are talking about someone who has always meant so much to you. Some of you may feel like I do, that you almost didn't realize how important he was in your lives until he was suddenly gone. You see, Bill was just always there. We grew up with Bill living on the other side of the field. For the older ones in my family Bill was a friend that they chummed around with, curled with, played cards with. For the younger ones he was like another family member.
Many of you may remember that my folks, Frank & Anne, always had an open house at the store to celebrate Dad's birthday. Bill was always there. He loved sitting with his friends, playing cards, visiting, laughing. Since I've lived so far away there is often a pot-luck family get together when I do come home. Bill was always there for that too, provided his farming schedule allowed. If not, I usually saw him on the farm or we would get together some how. We also corresponded ever since I left home, many years ago. I loved getting Bill's letters. They were so full of what was going on in his life, how farming was going, what stupid thing the government was doing now to mess up the farmers, his love for his family and his deep love for God.
Yes, Bill was more than a neighbor, he was a dear friend. He had so many qualities that I have always admired and need to speak about today. Bill was just as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. If you needed his help you only had to ask, and sometimes he was there before you asked. No matter whether you needed advice, money, his time, a strong back to help you move, or just someone to talk to, Bill was there. He offered whatever he had that would help and expected nothing in return except for an appreciative thank you. Like people who help others a lot, he sometimes didn't even get a thank you. That would hurt and he was always puzzled about it, but it didn't stop him from helping again when asked.
Bill had a gentle and generous heart. He was often a man of few words but his actions spoke well for him. Certainly he wasn't perfect, none of us are. He had a stubborn streak in him a mile wide. However, he was only stubborn about something because he believed so strongly in whatever course of action he took. He made his decisions with a lot of thought and care and he stuck to his decisions. He certainly had the courage of his convictions and that is a trait I admire.
I think that integrity has often been one of the first words that comes to mind when I think of Bill. Honesty and integrity. I don't think he was capable of deception. It seemed to me that he lived his life according to a few very simple rules.
1. He honoured his father and his mother
2. He had a deep love of family
3. He lived by the Golden Rule, treating others as he wished to be treated in return.
4. He had a deep and abiding faith and love for God.
Bill was quite simply one of the people I have admired most in the world and I think I am a better person for having had him as a role model.
When I heard how he died I was very distraught at the thought that he had died alone. It bothered me for a couple of days before I suddenly realized that with Bill's deep faith in God, he wasn't alone. He certainly wouldn't have felt alone. He died on the land that he loved and knew that he was "going home" to where his folks already are. I think he would be satisfied with that.
..... and a few thoughts from Allan as well:
Just a couple of words of my own. Bill, you will never know what it does to the confidence of a young man when you and Leif would approach me at the start of the curling season and ask me to skip the team. That confidence has carried me well past the curling rink. I am deeply honoured to be asked to participate in saying goodbye and God speed to someone I have loved so much.