William D. Trudell

He was born on April 10, 1936, in Iron Mountain, to the late Dona J. and Angeline (Fournier) Trudell.

Bill grew up in Iron Mountain and graduated from Iron Mountain High School, Class of 1954. After high school, he attended Michigan College of Mining and Technology (Michigan Tech), where he earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a major in power generation, Class of 1958.

William grew up on the west side of Iron Mountain, where his activities from childhood through high school included scouting, motor scooter riding, delivering newspapers, amateur radio, photography, working in a dairy store, and pumping gasoline, which continued through college. He also worked part time in the family moving business and at Michigan Tech Food Service, held summer jobs at Kingsford Chemical, Ford Motor Rouge Plant in Dearborn, Mich., and at Boeing Airplane Company in Seattle.

After graduation from Michigan Tech, from 1958 until 1960, he worked for Upper Peninsula Power Company in Escanaba, Victoria, and L’Anse. From 1960 until 1962, he worked for Trudell Transfer along with working with the family moving and storage business. From 1962 until 1994, he worked with The Quaker Oats Company in Chicago, in Marion, Ohio, and in London from 1980 to 1991 with their international division. During his time with Quaker Oats Company, he worked with plant and staff engineering assignments for mechanical and food processing, project management, and division engineering manager. Bill retired from Quaker Oats in 1994.

Bill married the love of his life, Margaret Olson on May 16, 1959, in Gladstone. Bill and Margaret worked together to improve their community through volunteer service and monetary support of organizations with similar goals, such as Michigan Tech, Bay College, Salvation Army, RSVP and Golden K, Shriners Hospitals, Arts and Historical Preservation, Menominee Range Museum and Glider Project, PMMF, and DDA Programs. Bill was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Golden K, Chippewa Club, and board a member of The Community Foundation.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Margaret Trudell; son, William Trudell; daughters, Dana (Karl) Nunne and Christine Trudell; and grandchildren, Karl W. Nunne, Margaret (Nicholas Miller) Nunne and Erik Nunne; and nephews, Kurt Braun and David Braun.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Carl Braun; and nephew, Scott Braun.

Visitation will be from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, at First Presbyterian Church in Kingsford. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. at the church, with Reverend Bob Malsack officiating.

Burial will be in the spring at Iron Mountain Cemetery Park.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Bill’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.

The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Iron Mountain to honor Bill’s legacy of life.