Obituary: Stewart, William Robert “Bill”
Age 85
He passed away at his home in Spokane on January 11, 2014 with his son and daughter-in-law at his side.
Bill graduated from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw in 1946, and subsequently pursued a congressional nomination for admission to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
He graduated West Point with the Class of 1950 and joined the Air Force, initially serving at Fairchild AFB in Spokane.
Bill later served as a Navigator/Bombardier on B36-H’s at Carswell AFB, TX, attaining rank of Captain.
In 1955, Bill retired from active duty and remained with the USAF reserves until 1968.
Needless to say, this was one of Bill’s proudest achievements.
Next to Bill’s military career the closest to his heart was his wife Donna of 58 years which produced their only son Andrew (Andy).
Bill’s employment as a Marketing Director in aerospace took them on many adventures and places in the United States and in Europe.
Bill and Donna also decided to try the restaurant business and owned a full-menu restaurant in St. Anthony’s Falls, Minnesota appropriately called the Anthony House.
As many know, the restaurant business is not an easy one, and he and Donna gave it all they could.
After two years, it was time to move on.
For two years, Bill’s job took the family to Paris, France where they enjoyed experiencing another culture.
Bill was always interested in education, earned his J.D.
law degree in 1976 from Southwestern University, MBA from USC in 1978 ; Advanced MBA from Claremont College in 1986, and taught business at Whitman College in the early 1990’s.
Personally, Bill’s greatest achievements and desires were always centered on his family.
His family is what he lived for, and as some of you may know, this was not always an easy task.
Bill was always Donna’s biggest advocate and even though her illness did limit her, he never gave up.
Bill wanted only the best for his family and providing a beautiful home for future generations was his number one priority, which he accomplished.
Bill also loved his dachshunds, Mort and Maggie, who were as much as a part of his life as were Donna and Andrew.
Bill’s interests were many and were most notably reading, current events, researching his ancestry, building miniature airplanes, and college football.
Bill was a Shriner since 1952, achieved a level of 32nd degree Mason and was know also as “Fezman” to his Shriner brethren.
Bill was also President of the St. Andrew’s society.
For us who knew William he was at times a man of simple values but could be just as complex.
He believed in honor, pride and doing the best for his family.
Now Bill and Donna (and the dogs) are finally together again and have found peace in each others arms.
Bill is survived by his son Andrew and his wife Suzanne and granddaughter Brianna.
A funeral service honoring William (Bill) R. Stewart will be held at 11:00am on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at Heritage Funeral Home.
A reception will held after the burial at Bill’s home.