×

William A. Taipale

William Taipale

MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP, MI – William Arvi Taipale, age 93, of Marquette Township, entered eternal life Thursday, December 30th, 2021, at Mill Creek Assisted Living.

Bill was born December 10th, 1928, in Marquette, a son of Arvi Isaac and Ellen Lydia (Kauppila) Taipale. He was raised in Marquette where he graduated from Graveraet High School in 1946 and for the next two years, he worked as a production painter at Munising Wood Products in Marquette. In 1949, he began an electrical apprenticeship and was a Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Service truck Electrician for 44 years, first with John Downs Electric and subsequent employment included J and H Electric and Rogers Electric in Marquette until he retired in 1990. During these years, Bill married the former Nancy Beaudoin on May 26th, 1956, helped raise his two daughters, built his own home, and devoted any extra time and energy to community causes.

Bill’s civic affiliations were many, and he approached every task with determination, while also acquiring the nicknames “Wild Bill” and “Sweet William”. Over the years, he served on the Marquette Township Planning Commission for 22 years, as a member and chairperson. He also served on the Marquette Township Election Board, as township treasurer and was a charter member of the Marquette Township Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as dispatcher and treasurer. In addition, he was a charter member and treasurer of the newly formed Township Beautification Committee, a member of the Township Recreation Committee, the Little Presque Isle State Forest Recreation Area Committee and with his wife, Nancy, helped organize the Township Sesquicentennial Celebration.

He belonged to many organizations which he also devoted extra time and energy, including the Moose Lodge #1059 since 1962 and Legion of Moose for 10 years, as well as, serving on many committees, United Commercial Travelers #186 for 50 years and served as Senior Counselor three (3) terms, Chairman and was also a member of various committees including Seeds of Hope, Wishing Wells, Retarded Citizen, Executive Board member and had attended the Grand Convention as Past Counselor or Delegate for 20 years. Bill was a member of the Hiawathaland Snowmobile Club serving as President, for two (2) years, as well as, other committee assignments, a member of IBEW Electricians Union Local 906, where he was a past treasurer for 30 years and the Marquette Regional History Center (Historical Society) attending many of their sponsored history events. In his leisure moments, Bill enjoyed traveling with Nancy, hunting, especially bird hunting, snowmobiling with club members and his family, gardening and tinkering and fixing just about anything he tackled. He was an avid Detroit Red Wings hockey and Green Bay Packer fan and was one of the last surviving members of one of the infamous Big Boy Restaurant’s “breakfast clubs” where local and world events were discussed and “solved”.

Bill is survived by his daughters, Susan E. Rolf of Creal Springs, IL and Marcanne K. Hanbaum of Marion, IL; his grandchildren, Will A. Ellis of Albuquerque, NM, Jillian L. Hanbaum of Dongola, IL, and Zachary T. Hanbaum of Marion, IL; a sister, Mary J. Peterson of Benson, AZ; and brother, James M. (Robbie) Taipale of Emmet, ID; and several nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Nancy.

Friends may call at Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services on Saturday, January 8th, beginning at 11:00 am until the time of service, at 12:30 pm. Rev. Greg Heikkala will officiate. A reception will follow in the funeral home reception room. Interment will be made in the Park Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Lake Superior Life Care and Hospice, 914 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855, the Marquette Regional History Center, 145 W. Spring Street, Marquette, MI 49855, the Marquette Salvation Army, 1009 W. Baraga Avenue, Marquette, MI 49855, or UPAWS (Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter), P.O. Box 968, Marquette, MI 49855.

Fassbender Swanson Hansen Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the family, where condolences may be expressed online at fassbenderswansonhansen.com.