William Bell

Bill was born in Escanaba on Oct. 4, 1945, son of James Hunt Bell and Edythe (Farnham) Bell. He lived in Escanaba during his boyhood, then moved with his family to La Crosse, Wis.

Dad was a guitarist, a singer and a songwriter. While in high school, he played with the Sagemen, a folk trio. He graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1963 and maintained lifelong friendships with his classmates. He married one of them, Nancy Bradford, in 1965. They divorced in 1990.

Bill is survived by his sister, Kris Musselman; his ex-wife, Nancy (Don) Thomas-Kremmer; his children, Tania (Damian) Taff, Heidi (Adam Burke) Bell, Barbara (Trevor) Brown and James (Mandy) Bell; his sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Saterbak and Sara Miner; seven grandchildren, Alicia (Ryan) Leas, Alex (Katie Smith) Taff, Cassandra (Kevin Johnson) Taff, Lily and Evan Brown, Henry and Spencer Bell; three great-grandchildren, Abishae and Jaydee Taff and Virginia Leas; his longtime partner, Deanette Shull; and special friends Adam and Maureen Blackwell.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Susan (Bell) Miller and Phil Miller; and his brothers-in-law Chuck Musselman, Jerry Saterbak and Robert Miner.

Bill’s family wishes to thank the compassionate staff at Florence Health Services for the kind and loving care our dad received in the last years of his life.

No services will be held.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the La Crosse Central High School music department to support their choir programs.

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

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