William J. Stelter Obituary

William J. Stelter

William Julius “Bill” Stelter, 89 died at home on March 15, 2008. He was born in Jackson County on October 15, 1918 to Julius and Emilie (Sieg) Stelter.

After graduating from Augusta High School in 1936, he spent 2 years in the CCC at Camp Dunbar. Bill worked at Uniroyal for 30 years, retiring in 1976 at the age of 57.


From 1942-1946 he served in the U.S. Army, stationed in New Guinea.
Bill married Esther (Gawlick) Stelter on December 17, 1941. They were happily married for 65 years. He was a very devoted loving husband and father who enjoyed visiting, reading, tinkering, gardening, bowling, card playing and especially spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After retiring, Bill and Esther enjoyed owning a hobby farm near Bloomer. In 1991 they moved to their lake home on Clear Lake, then moving back to Eau Claire in 2005.

Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife Esther, their son, William Franklin Stelter; brothers Albert, Edwin, Edgar, Elmer; sisters Luetta, Lucille; half-brothers Henry, Fred; half-sisters Olga, Henrietta, Martha and Hilda.

He is survived by daughters, Judith (Gregory) Johnson, Nancy (John) Logan and Sandra (Michael) Ottum; grandchildren Cathie (Jeff) Marble, Greg (Lesli) Johnson Jr., Cindy (John) Gessert, Michelle Rousselow, Jenny (Dan) Delkamp, Emily (Sean) Dooley, Michael (Natasha) Ottum, Jamie (Lori) Ottum, Kristen Ottum and 23 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Elsie Stelter; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at Concordia Lutheran Church with Pastor Frederick Theiste officiating. Burial will be held in Rest Haven Gardens. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 12:00 noon until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the charity of donor’s choice. Family and friends may send condolences online at www.fullerspeckien.com. Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.