Bill Fletcher was a busy man.
He was a golfer, gardener, scout leader,
and ham radio enthusiast. He dedicated his time to his
family and his church and his friends. For 30 years he
served Wisconsin Public Radio listeners as a transmitter
operator and engineer in La Crosse and Madison.
Bill died of cancer on June 11 at the age
of 54.
At his funeral service, one of his nephews
recalled Bill's devotion to his parents and siblings and
nieces. "Relatives always knew, without fail, Bill would
send a card for every occasion…every occasion -
anniversaries, graduations, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween,
the Forth of July, and, of course, birthdays."
There were stories of Bill helping neighbors and friends
with chores around their houses. One reminiscence told of Bill
taking his young nephews to a local lake to discover the
wonders of polliwogs. "Bill took his role as Uncle very
seriously," said his nephew.
His co-workers also remember Bill as
generous and caring. They recalled his wry
sense of humor, and his fondness for roses
and women (not necessarily in that order). "No matter how
busy or stressful work was, Bill took the time to observe and
enjoy the little details of life," said one of his fellow
broadcast engineers. "He would bring in fresh-cut
roses from his garden, celebrate all holidays, and thank people
for even the smallest gestures."
Another co-worker described Bill as
"very social and friendly. He was quick to laugh and
joke. I don't recall Bill ever being grumpy, even during
the very early
hours of the sign-on shift. His sense
of humor was the best and his smile and laughter will be
something I will
always remember!”
Wendy Wink, the executive director of the
Educational Communications Board (one of the organizations
which operate Wisconsin Public Radio), added that Bill
"was committed to Wisconsin Public Broadcasting -- easy to
question, easy to smile, careful to ensure that seconds counted
when we were on air. We will
miss him, especially in June when
the roses bloom."
