William Joseph Meyer Obituary – The Petoskey News-Review

Noted pool shark, pig roaster, air trombonist, auto mechanic, Executive Caterer, kids’ books narrator, pheasant hunter, concrete chocolate malt consumer, wood worker, rib smoker, brook trout fisherman, Wordle player, fixed gear (effectively) cyclist, Buck Owens listener, short form video producer, National Parks camper, classroom floor waxer, bean tostada connoisseur, pinewood derby car tuner, martini hound (for the olives), backyard sun-tanner, volunteer dishwasher, nose stealer, Big 10 fanboy, guerrilla gardener, U.P. tour guide eh, card player, “World’s Largest” maven, sarma chef, diehard Lions fan, bird feeder / watcher, squirrel / raccoon antagonist, aluminum can stalker, spaghetti critic and sometime conversationalist, William Joseph “Bill” Meyer of Petoskey, MI fell asleep in the Lord on June 1st, 2023 in Petoskey, MI due to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at the ripe old age of 81. He was born in Bessemer, MI to Joseph Alfred and Julia Ann (Lepisto) Meyer. After graduating from A D Johnston high school, he enlisted with the US Navy, attended boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes and graduated at the top of his electricians class. He served his country by flying airborne early warning missions in Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellations from Midway Island to Adak, Alaska and back. He spent much of his liberty on the beach in Hawaii – tough life.

After finishing his service with the Navy, Bill moved to Milwaukee, WI to start work as a machinist at Wisconsin Motors. It was in Milwaukee that he met the love of his life, Alyce Anne Oswald. Bill lived on the ground floor of a bungalow with friends, while Alyce did the same but upstairs. They were married at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church on July 22nd, 1967 and bought a house in West Allis, WI in 1970. They welcomed a son, Andrew Joseph, in 1970 and a daughter, Sarah Louise, in 1971. Active members of Mary Queen of Heaven parish in West Allis, Bill played on the much feared MQH dart ball team that dominated the Roman Catholic circuit in the early to mid-1980’s. He was also active in the Cub Scout, Webelos and Boy Scout organizations. Bill finished his working career with Tri-Tech Machine Sales in New Berlin, WI, and he and Alyce decamped to Petoskey in 2016 where they “should have moved 10 years earlier.”

Despite his multi-faceted life and career, Bill may be best remembered for his extraordinarily dry humor, dogged personal loyalty, uncompromising principles, endless devotion to his wife, and unflagging faith in both the underdog and the Lord.

Bill is survived by his “Dear Heart” – his loving wife of 55 inseparable years, Alyce (Petoskey, MI); his sister, Carole, and brother-in-law, Stan Marshalek (Grand Blanc, MI); his daughter, Sarah, son-in-law, Charlie Brooks (Chicago, IL + Kaleva, MI), and Charlie’s sons Max (Saint Petersburg, FL), Ben (Chicago, IL) and Sam (Iowa City, IA); and his son, Andy, daughter-in-law, Natasha, and grandchildren Maya and Luke (Solana Beach, CA). Bill would prefer that you save your hard-earned money for a nice prime rib, but if you feel otherwise and/or are vegetarian, please direct any donations to Brother Dan’s Food Pantry, 415 State St, Petoskey, MI 49770. Amen.