Capt. Winston Douglas Wills, CEC, USNR (ret.)
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NORWAY -- Capt. Winston Douglas Wills, CEC, USNR (ret.), of Norway, went on eternal patrol on Sept, 13, 2026, at 85 years old.
He was born in Norway, one of 10 children to the late William Winston Wills and Eleanor (Douglas) Wills. He graduated from Vulcan Public School in Vulcan in 1959 before enlisting in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17.
He served for three years aboard the USS Rock AGSs-274, an operating submarine in the Western Pacific, where he became "Submarine Qualified." Upon his discharge from active duty as an IC-2 (SS) in August 1962, he attended Michigan Technological University until his graduation in August 1966 with a B.S.C.E.
While at Michigan Tech, he met and married the love of his life, Helen L. Eskola. They had three children, Laura, William and Dawn. He was very proud of his children, their families and their accomplishments.
He worked as a civil engineer for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for 30 years and lived in Green Bay, Wis., and Superior, Wis. After graduation from Michigan Tech, he received a direct commission in the U.S. Naval Reserves, Civil Engineering Corps (Seabees). He served in the U.S. Navy Seabee Reserve in many positions, most notably as the commanding officer of RMCB 25 and Commodore of the Second RNCR. He served both active and reserves for a total of 34 years. He retired from the Navy in 1993 and retired from the Wisconsin DOT in 1996. He held a Professional Engineers License in Wisconsin and Michigan.
In 1997, he and Helen moved back to Michigan to Lac Labelle and built a log home on the lake. He enjoyed running his Lucky Strike Charter Fishing business on Lake Superior and going to camp and deer hunting with his son and grandchildren. After spending their winters in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas for 16 years, they decided to quit their winter traveling, sold their log home in Lac Labelle, and moved to the Green Bay area near their daughter, Dawn, and her family. He spent his summers and fall at his camp in Michigan's Keweenaw, hunting and fishing.
In 2021, they sold the camp in Michigan and purchased their home in the mountains of Payson, Ariz., a few minutes from where their daughter had moved with her family. He enjoyed the warmer winters, watching the elk and other wildlife around town, going on daily walks with his wife and going to his weekly veterans coffee meetings.
He was a member of the Elks, American Legion Post 230, a life member of the United States Submarine Veterans, The Holland Club, a life member of Navy Seabees Veterans of America and can be found on the Navy Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. or online at https://navylog.navymemorial.org/wills-winston
Besides his wife of 62 years, he is survived by his daughters, Laura L. Medus of Charleston, S.C., and Dawn M. Wills of Payson; his son, William W. Wills, and daughter-in-law Marie K. Wills of Superior, Wis.: 10 grandchildren, Jodi, Courtney, Brittany, Douglas, Travis, Jazmine, Felicia, Cody, Brianna and Garret; seven great-grandchildren, Patrick, Nadia, Logan, Tanner, Makenzie, Lucas and Winter; four sisters, Eleanor Gray, Susan Pinter, Sally Arcand, and Jacalyn Menghini; two brothers, Tom Wills, Edward Wills; and many nieces and nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by sister Nancy Chellew, and brothers James Wills and Peter Wills.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held in Norway at a later date, with his final resting place to be in the National Cemetery in Prescott, Ariz.