William “Bill” T. Fitzgerald was born in St. Louis, on December 21, 1923, an early Christmas gift for his parents, Angela and William Fitzgerald. Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Shirley, nee McQuade. He was the father of Elizabeth (Philip) Taylor, Regina (Keith) McKinley and the late William Jr. (Nancy), cherished grandpa of Daniel (Meredith), Kathleen (Matt Kempainen), Whitney, Kelly and Kevin.
A WWII Navy veteran, Bill served in the Pacific as an Electronic Technician. With the skills he acquired in the service, Bill became a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 1. He was employed as an electrician at Anheuser Busch and retired with 40 plus years of service. Bill held the distinction of being one of the oldest associates of the IBEW union, with 77 years of membership.
A devoted Catholic, Bill volunteered at St. Anthony’s Medical Center and Assumption Parish School. He held a 4th Degree with the Knights of Columbus. For decades he gave back to his church and community, running computer literacy classes for children at Assumption Parish School, assisting with St. Vincent DePaul Society and was an election judge at his local precinct. His unflagging curiosity about how the world works drove him to always seek more knowledge, additional experiences, and new friendships – particularly through his volunteer work. This curiosity inspired his children and grandchildren, all of whom benefited immensely from the example he set through his life.
Bill was a lover of poetry, songs and psalms, and he loved to share his love of words with others. With this great memory and sharp mind, Bill recited Shakespeare, Whitman, Longfellow and many other great works, that he learned as a child, well into his 90s.
At 94 ½ years old, Bill left us on June 16, 2018, in St. Louis.
Truly loved and truly missed.
Some think the world is made for fun and frolic,
And so do I! And so do I!
Some think it well to be all melancholic,
To pine and sigh; to pine and sigh;
But I, love to spend my time in singing,
Some joyous song; some joyous song;
To set the air with music bravely ringing,
Is far from wrong! Is far from wrong!
Harken! Harken! Music sounds afar!
Harken! Harken! Music sounds afar!
Funiculi funicula’ , funiculi funicula’
Joy is everywhere,
Funiculi funicula’ , funiculi funicula’
HEY
Services: Funeral from KUTIS SOUTH COUNTY Chapel, 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd., on Friday, June 29, 9:30 a.m. to Assumption Catholic Church for 10 a.m. Mass. Interment J.B. National Cemetery. Visitation Thursday, 4-8 p.m.