William E. Cote, 90, of Altoona and formerly of Eau Claire, passed away in his sleep at Dove Healthcare on August 25, 2010.
William "Bill" was born in Crookston, Minn., on October 15, 1919, the son of Joseph Earnest and Marie (LeDuc) Cote.
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Growing up, Bill lived for a while in St. Paul, and then in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. As a young man he hopped a cattle train and returned to the U.S., eventually settling in Chicago, where he met and married LaVerne Tills in 1940. (Earlier this year they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary!) He served in the U.S. Navy toward the end of World War II. After the war, Bill and his young family moved to Rice Lake, where he learned to be an auto body repairman. He then moved his family to Eau Claire where he worked at Trubilt Auto Body, retiring in 1985. For 12 years following retirement, Bill and LaVerne delivered Meals on Wheels. Bill was a long-time member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, where he helped out on many projects, including painting, cleaning, and peeling carrots! He also served as an usher and sang in the choir. He had a terrific voice and loved singing, especially the "oldies." Bill also loved the "softer" things in life: flowers, babies, and animals. And he always greeted people cheerfully in his native French with a "Bon jour"! |
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Bill is survived by his wife, LaVerne; his daughters Diana (Richard) Christianson and Ginger (James) Tallman of Eau Claire, and "adopted" daughter, Denise Erdman Robertson, of Elk Grove, California; six grandchildren, Trevor (Kelly) Zimmerman of Hallie, Michael Zimmerman of Eau Claire, Erin (Brian) Stark of Olathe, Kansas, Angie (Brent) Girard of the Town of Seymour, Sara (Joel) Willis of Lime Ridge, and Elizabeth Dolezel of Eau Claire; ten great-grandchildren, Rachel and Alexandra Westphal, Anthony, Andrew, Mason, and Jacob Zimmerman, Miranda and Elliott Stark, Leslie Willis, and Hayley Zimmerman.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and by his son, William, Jr., in 2008.
Funeral services will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 28, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Kangis officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at 6 p.m. at the church. Private burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery in Eau Claire.
Bill's family requests that memorials be directed to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Fuller Speckien Hulke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Friends may offer online condolences at
www.fullerspeckienhulke.com.
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