William E. Reible

William E. Reible, age 101, of Beaver Dam, died on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at Hillside Manor. The visitation for Bill will be at St. Katharine Drexel Parish on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. until 10:50 a.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at church on Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. with Fr. Mike Erwin officiating. Burial will be at St. Patrick Cemetery in Beaver Dam. William Edward Reible was born on March 4, 1916 in LeRoy, Wisconsin, the son of Edward and Julia (Sonnentag-Waas) Reible. Bill graduated from Juneau High School in 1936. He was married to Sylvia Kraft on September 16, 1938. They were married for 62 years. Bill worked for Singer Sewing Machine Company in Janesville, Wisconsin as a salesperson. He was also a partner in the Reible Record and Television Shop for 24 years. Bill was a life-long member of St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish in Beaver Dam and was a volunteer for the Beaver Dam Hospital Auxiliary. Bill was a very avid Packer and Brewer fan. He enjoyed watching all sports and traveling. Bill served on the Beaver Dam Planning Commission during the 1990’s. He was a member and volunteer of the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh and in July of 2016 was asked to board a “Goodyear Blimp” and chat with the pilots. He was one of eleven men who formed the Mid-Continental Railway in North Freedom where he did volunteer work, worked on steam engine trains and also served as a conductor on train rides informing people on the history of trains. He was a member of the Beaver Dam Rotary Club for more than 45 years. Bill received the Paul Harris Award for Distinguished Services from the Beaver Dam Rotary Club. He and his wife spent their winters in Florida and the past several years in Mesa, Arizona and served as a volunteer for airborne search and rescue missions there. He was a 1st Lt. of the Civil Air Patrol in Mesa. He also had numerous hobbies such as rock collecting, making jewelry, boating, and flying airplanes. Bill was a member of the Beaver Dam Aviation Club where he was a co-owner of an airplane with six other local men during the early years of the formation of the club. He was a member of the Cowboy Fast Draw Association in Mesa. Bill could draw and shoot, hitting a target in less than two seconds. It was a skill he discovered while spending his last few years during the winter in Arizona. Survivors include his nephews, Robert Reible and Thomas Reible, both of Beaver Dam; nieces, Margie Reible (Robert Ballweg) and Mary (Andrew) Colson, all of Beaver Dam; great nephew, Jacob Ballweg; great niece, Michelle Tietz; great-great niece, Aria; good friends, Michael and Liz Wittig of Crossville, TN; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brother, Randall Reible; half-sister, Frances Waas Balthrop; sister-in-law, Amy Reible; and his dear friend, Lucy Enos. If desired, memorials may be made in William E. Reible’s name to St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish.