December 17, 2020
BLACK RIVER FALLS - William “Bill” Louis Abbott, 87, of Black River Falls, died Thursday, December 17, 2020 at the Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital in Tomah. He was born to Archibald and Lidia (Seflow) Abbott in Tomah, Wisconsin. He was a member of the Tomah Senior High School Graduating Class of 1951. Bill was a United States Navy Veteran and served in the Korean War. He was united in marriage to Theresa Hemmersbach on April 13, 1953 at the Queen of the Apostle’s Catholic Church, Tomah. They lived in Garden Grove, CA for 16 years. In 1970 they moved back to Tomah and started the A&A Express with his brother, Clarence Abbott. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and worked for the Burrows Company. Then in 1975 they moved to Milwaukee, where he worked for General Electric, and Villa de Core for 11 years before retiring in 1997.
Bill was a faithful member of Queen of the Apostles and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. He served as a cantor for many years and was a member of the Knights of Columbus in the Fourth Degree. Bill’s biggest passions after his family and his faith were: hunting, he was an avid hunter, and taught his boys how to hunt, he always had a deck of cards close by, and taught all of his children how to play cribbage, singing in the choir, and dancing. He had a German Personality; he could be stubborn as a mule, wore his heart for everyone to see, and would do anything for anybody. Most of all he was a devoted husband, and proud father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Theresa of Black River Falls; eight children: Karen (George) Garber of Great Falls, MT, Patricia (Gerald) Matthews of Mukwonago, William Abbott Jr. of Black River Falls, David (Mary Jane) Abbott of Wisconsin Rapids, Coleen (Edward) Dionne of Palmyra, Eleen (Christian) Eversum of Black River Falls, Keith Abbott of Portage, Sharon (William) Hass of Fort Atkinson; 28 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; two sisters, Sylvia Fuestal of Chelsey, IA, and Betty (Melvin) Roscovius of Tomah; many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; many other nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, three brothers, and four sisters.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 23, 2020, 11:30 a.m. at Queen of the Apostles Parish at St. Mary’s, 315 W. Monroe, Tomah. Father Sam McCarty will officiate. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery with military honors by the Curtis-McNutt VFW Post #1382.
Relative and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home, 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah, and at the church on Wednesday from 10:30 until the time of the Mass.
Online condolences may be sent to www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com
Those in attendance are encouraged to wear a mask, use social distancing and CDC recommended safety guidelines and precautionary measures.
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
