It is with great sadness we said goodbye to William “Bill” Gaitskill of Wildwood, Missouri on Saturday, September 2nd, 2023 at the age of 84 years.
Bill graduated from Washington University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He had a full career as an engineer with the Army Aviation Systems Command which is where he met his loving wife Mary Alice Gaitskill (nee Niemeyer). They were married 57 years and were best friends throughout their journey together. They socialized with many friends, enjoyed traveling, and just being together at the end of the day.
Bill provided a wonderful life for his children: Laurie (Eric) Conley, Sue (Rob) Schlimme, and Debbie (Kevin) Graven. He loved them as they did him and was always present. He taught his daughters to be independent, confident, and shared his wisdom to succeed in life.
He adored his six grandchildren: Tyler Conley, Taylor and Blake Schlimme, and Kyle, Ryan, and Riley Graven. He was their biggest fan, attending their countless sports and various events. They were his greatest joy and most rewarding accomplishment.
Bill had a passion for photography, golfing, building and flying radio-controlled model airplanes, sharing his Far Side comic strips, and watching The Big Bang Theory. He also loved tinkering with technology or anything mechanical or electrical. He was often referred to as the “real engineer” for his infinite knowledge of how things work. Bill always had a project going on; he was very gifted and a man of many talents with a “creative” solution for everything.
He was a dear son of the late Dorothy (nee Grasel) and William Gaitskill, Sr.; loving brother of Mary Beth Gaitskill and Barb (Pat) Feely; our dearest brother-in-law, uncle, great-uncle, cousin, and friend to many.
Our lives were blessed to have Bill in it. He was a kind, good hearted man who lived a wonderful life and built a beautiful family — “All because two people fell in love”. We will forever carry Bill in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Diabetes Association, the Arthritis Foundation, or the American Cancer Society.
SERVICES: Services will be held privately.
A great family man and a genuinely nice person. He also had a neat sense of humor. He will be missed by anyone that knew him.
Mary Alice
What a beautiful tribute to your “groom”. God knew his work on earth was complete and called him home. I hope you and your family find peace
A good friend ,a golfing buddy
We weren’t good but we had fun
Also dinner and movie nights
We can’t forget Canada train tŕip or Mexican beachs
So many wonderful memories
Bill you will be missed
Mary Alice, I want to give you the biggest hug. ❤🙏❤. Bill and I had quite a friendship going for years trying to outdo each other with “butt” birthday photos of some sort. It was fun. We will miss you my friend and all our fun game late night. ❤🙏❤
Mary Alice I am so very sorry for your loss. You and Bill made a beautiful family together ❤️ and he will be sadly missed. You and you 3 girls are in my prayers as you get through this very sad time. I will say a rosary for you and say many prayers as you go through this journey. 🙏 Much love from Dick and Elaine Konradt.
Mary Alice,
I am sorry for your loss!
Your husband lives on through your amazing children. I didn’t know you or Bill very well but understand the strength and character he must have had to raise such strong women, like Sue. We met at Mizzou through gymnastics but have stayed close over these years. She is true and loyal through and through. She and her loving family will carry on where Bill left off. I am praying for you in this very tough time. Give those beautiful daughters and grandchildren big hugs and enjoy the amazing family you built!💕❤️💕
With deepest sympathy
Mary (Houghton) Helfrich
Debbie, so sorry to hear about your dad. He was always “there” . Sounds like that was always the case – definitely for Riley’s racquetball games. What a sweet man and what a great example he set for his family. Hugs and prayers for your entire family.
Mary Alice…I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Bill from AVSCOM. Blessings as you navigate through this time.
Mary Alice…my deepest sympathy to you and your family. My thoughts and prayer are with you at this time.
Mary Alice, Laurie, Sue, Debbie and family. I am so so sorry for your loss. I wish you strength and comfort at this time. Sending virtual hugs to you all.
Most Sincerely,
Cindy and Dave Merz
Papa Gaitskill will always have a mark here on earth for being a wonderful man, father, and grandfather. Sending you peace and strength to your family. Brea and John Noblit
Our deepest sympathies to all of you. We are so heartbroken over Bill’s unexpected death. He & Mary Alice have been honorary grandparents to Nathan since he met Ryan in kindergarten, and they have lovingly filled those roles at school and sporting events when Nathan’s own out-of-town grandparents couldn’t be there. Bill rarely missed a soccer/baseball/basketball game, scouting event, chorus show or a school celebration, and we could always count on him to show up with a smile and camera! Thanks for all of those great pictures, Bill! We will miss him dearly, but he won’t be forgotten. Love and hugs to you all.
~ The Esgars
Mrs. Gaitskill, Laurie, Sue, Debbie and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Looking back to when I was a growing up as a teenager in the neighborhood, I suspect I drove Mr. Gaitskill nuts at times but he was always so kind to me and treated me very well. There are a lot of things I remember about him but the ones that stand out the most are 1) his model airplanes and how cool it was to see him guide the planes around the circles when he was testing them, 2) firework displays that were pretty awesome that included a cylinder he launched fireworks from, 3) I recall it seemed like he always had a car in the garage with the hood up, not sure anything was really broke or if he was just tinkering around with the engine 4) he would drive down the street in the min-van with Tiffany’s head hanging out he window and 5) what he told me at my wedding, in his dry, witty sense of humor – “well, we finally got the rubble out of the neighborhood.” I have not seen him in many years but I have fond memories of him. He was patient to deal with my antics and I was fortunate to have known him as an adult figure in my life. Cherish the memories you have of him, we are all blessed to have known him as a husband, father and neighbor.
Kevin Knoernschild