Willard “Bill” Hans Brenner passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, September 1st, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Willard Hans or “Billy,” the oldest child of Willis and Alma (Anderson) Brenner, was born in Chippewa Falls, on December 24, 1943. He was born prematurely and is said to have been small enough to fit in a cigar box.

Bill grew up on his parents’ farm near Albertville and Colfax.  As a youth, he remembers being caught several times doing things that he shouldn’t have. In one instance, Bill climbed into the top of the machine shed where his father stored a large wooden chest of dynamite. When his father caught him playing with it, Bill never touched the dynamite again. In a similar case, Bill and a friend were caught playing with matches and a lantern in the hay loft. They were fortunate that nothing burned down, but not fortunate enough to escape Bill’s father.

He attended Hillside Country School for 8 years and graduated from Chi-Hi in the year 1962. After Bill graduated, he joined the Navy for four years. He was honorably discharged as an E-4 in September of 1966. He remained in the Naval reserves until 1968. He was proud to have served during the Vietnam era and was also chosen to participate in the Freedom Honor Flight program. While he was still in the service, on August 14, 1965, Bill married Julie Schneider at St. Charles Church in Chippewa Falls. Once Bill was discharged from the Navy, the newlyweds remained in the Chippewa Falls area, where Bill enrolled in a machinist’s course at Eau Claire Technical Institute. He graduated in 1969. Over the years, Bill has had a variety of jobs. He worked as an orderly at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls for two years and as a machinist at Johnson’s Leesona for 17 years. Bill also hauled fuel and gas for Farley Oil part time for 10 years. He worked as a machinist at Extrusion Dies, in Chippewa Falls and retired from Chippewa Falls Unified School district in 2006.

He was a member of the Tilden Lion’s Club and received a Birch-Sturm Fellowship award. He was an avid pin trader. When he wasn’t working, Bill enjoyed hunting, trap shooting, fishing at their cottage at Clear Lake, WI, snowmobiling, photography, Brewers and Packers games and especially spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his wife of 59 years, children: Tracey Culbert of Gig Harbor, Washington, Kathi (Mitch) Rice of Chippewa Falls, Kristine (Keith) Sterling of Chippewa Falls, Willi (Bobbi Jo) Brenner of Rochester, Minnesota, and Rob (Ann) Brenner of Bloomer. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren Marcus, Leo, Amber, Shawn, Dawson, Shanen, Sidney, Mallory, Marley, Isaac, Amara, and Ellie Mae, 2 step-grandchildren Dakota and Elise, 5 great-grandchildren, Matthew, Uriah, Shiloh, Judah, and Baby Girl due in October and 2 great step-grandchildren Vincent, and Oaklei. He is also survived by a brother, Brad R. (Carol) Brenner of Eau Claire, and brothers-in-law Dick (Patsy) Schneider of Bloomer, and Henry Schneider of Chippewa Falls, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws Michael and Leona (Swoboba) Schneider, half-sister, Joyce Brenner; 2 half-brothers Willis “Johnny” and Gorden Brenner; and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday. September 9, 2024, at St. Charles Church in Chippewa Falls. Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Gorman will be celebrant of the funeral Mass. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Chippewa Falls. Military rites will be conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, September 8, and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Monday at the Horan Funeral Home, Chippewa Falls. There will be a Christian vigil service at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

AFTER SERVICE NOTICE:

A Memorial Mass for Willard “Bill” H. Brenner was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 9 at St. Charles Church in Chippewa Falls.

Rev. Msgr. Michael J. Gorman was celebrant of the Memorial Mass assisted by Deacon Dan Rider. Mass servers were Matt Amundson and Ron Bresina. Military rites were conducted by the Chippewa Falls Patriotic Council.

Music during the Mass was provided by Abigail Lynch and the St. Charles Funeral Choir. Readings were given by Marcus Culbert and Shawn Sura. Petitions were read by Amber Anderson. Gift bearers were Isaac, Amara and Ellie Brenner and Mallory Sterling.

Sunday evening the Tilden Lions walked through and paid their respects and Msgr. Gorman and Deacon Rider led the family, relatives and friends in a Christian vigil service at the funeral home.