Sorry, you need to enable JavaScript to visit this website.
Time to read
1 minute
Read so far

William Ray “Bill” Hotchkiss

Posted in:

WAUSA — William Ray “Bill” Hotchkiss, 79, Wausa, died April 9, 2021, at his residence.

Funeral Services will be April 16, at 2 p.m., at the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington, with the Rev. Amanda Talley officiating.

Burial will be at the Hartington City Cemetery, Hartington, with military rites by the Hartington VFW Post #5283 and the American Legion Riders.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 5-7 p.m., at the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington, and will continue Friday one hour prior to services. Face masks are suggested for the visitation and the funeral.

Pallbearers will be John Brandow, Donald Jorgensen, Josh Jorgensen, Anthony Gauthier, Adam Wortmann and Michael Brandow.

William was born Feb. 27, 1942, in Riverside, Calif., to Charles Gardner and Elizabeth Hazel (Hammock) Hotchkiss. He grew up in California and graduated from Coachella Valley Union High School, Coachella, Calif., in 1960. Upon graduating, William joined the U.S. Navy and served five years during the Vietnam War from Nov. 10, 1960-Feb. 12, 1965. William married Patricia J. Ballard Dec. 10, 1965, in Indio, Calif. William worked for General Telephone Electronics as a aenior traffic engineer for over 33 years. This company then became Verizon. While in California, Bill was a volunteer fire fighter for the city of La Quinta and became the Assistant Fire Chief.

He enjoyed camping, annual family vacations, being involved in his children’s sports and music activities as they grew up, Boy Scouts, fishing, water skiing. Bill was a water polo player in high school. William also played the trumpet for many years. After his wife, Patricia, died in 2006 he moved to Nebraska in 2007 to be closer to his daughter Christine. Bill also “learned” to love Husker football with his son-in-law, John, while living in Nebraska.

William is survived by his son Lawrence W. Hotchkiss, Manhein, Pa.; daughter, Christine (John) Brandow, Hartington; six grandchildren, Anthony Gauthier, Zachary Mitchell, Jessica (Brandow) Fischer, Katelyn Brandow, Chavonne Hotchkiss and Michael Brandow; two great-grandchildren, Reggan Fischer and Charlotte Wortmann; two brothers, Richard Hotchkiss, North Little Rock, Ark., and Laurence Hotchkiss, Sun City, Calif.

William was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Elizabeth Hotchkiss, and his wife, Patricia.