Obituary: William Michael Locke - Class of 1951

MADISON - William Michael "Grandpa Bill" Locke passed away on Monday, July 6, 2009, at University Hospital at the age of 76. Bill was born in Mount Horeb on Nov. 15, 1932, to Helen Sutter Locke and Ernest Locke. They moved to Madison when he was 7 years old where his father died when he was 9. His mother Helen was remarried to Joseph Poloni. She passed away when Bill was a senior in high school. Bill graduated from Central High School with the Class of 1951. He met and married his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Sharon Aldrich. They were married on June 7, 1952, at St. Patrick's Church and celebrated 57 wonderful years together. Bill worked for Fauerbach Brewery, Bancroft Dairy for most of his life, Dane County Dairy, and the Dean Clinic. He had many wonderful memories of life as a milkman and made many lifelong friends among his co-workers and customers. Bill and Sharon raised five children and having been an only child, Bill enjoyed the wonderful, noisy, happiness, of a big family. He leaves behind, his loving wife, Sharon; a daughter, Lexy (Mark) Maas of Whiterwater; three sons, Michael (Bonnie) of Poynette, Gary (Nancy) of McFarland, and Tom (Angel) of Dallas, Texas; a daughter, Susan (Dartt) Thompson of Madison passed away in November 1994. He is survived by six grandsons, Ben (Anna), Jordan (Kristen) and Michael (Anna) Maas, Sam Locke, Chad Sloniker and Kristopher Simons; four granddaughters, Taylor and Caitlin Thompson, and Dakota and Kylie Sloniker; and three great-granddaughters, Gabriella Cadwallader, Kimberly Simons and Maggie Sue Maas. Bill was a truly happy man who taught his children to love and respect the outdoors and in particular fishing. He loved his family more than anything else and treasured every moment with them. He taught them to treasure the joys that each new day can bring and leaves behind a legacy of everlasting and total love. Services will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2009, at ST. DENNIS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 413 Dempsey Road, Madison. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. followed by Mass at 11 a.m. A lunch will be served at noon followed by private graveside services for the family. All Faiths Funeral and Cremation Services Madison (608) 442-0477

Originally published in the Wisconsin State Journal on July 8, 2009