William Champagne, 70
Oklee - William "Bill" Champagne, 70, died Sunday, January 21, 2001 at his home in Oklee.
Mass of Christian burial was held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 26, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Oklee with Father Gary LaMoine officiating. Barb Melby was the organist, and Donna Fossum and Lori Melby were the vocalists. Casketbearers were Terry Whalen, Tim Whalen, Nick Olson, Adam Stoneouse, Scott Grove and Kevin Tvedt. Interment was in Zion Cemetery in Oklee with Johnson Funeral Service of Oklee in charge of the arrangements.
William Peter Champagne was born on August 13, 1930 at Brooks, the son of Amedie and Delima (Carriere) Champagne. He was raised in Brooks and graduated from Plummer High School in 1948.
On December 17, 1949, he was united in marriage to Norma Distad at St. John's Catholic Church in South Milwaukee, Wisc. The couple lived in Milwaukee until the summer of 1950 when they moved to Brooks. After a year, they returned to Milwaukee and a year later moved to Oklee. Norma died on March 25, 1998.
During Bill's working years, he was employed by Bucyrus Eries in Milwaukee, People's Oil Co. and Swenson Oil and Equipment in Oklee. He also worked at the Grand Forks missile base, as an independent grain trucker and at the Oklee Creamery. Except for a year when he was employed at the Grygla Elevator, he worked at the Oklee Elevator from April of 1968 until his retirement in March of 1997. After retirement, he did seasonal work for Stenberg Farms and Bachand Bros.
Bill was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.
He enjoyed drives in the country, hunting, fishing and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Bill is survived by a son, Daniel (Marianne) Champagne of Pflugerville, Texas; four daughters, Linda (Tim) Whalen of Oklee, Renee (Steve) Radniecki of Twin Valley, and Debbie (Leo) Olson and Cindy (Ron) Stoneouse, both of Oklee; 15 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Luella (Ron) Bushaw, Doreen (Maurice) Cote and Marion Martell.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; two brothers, Onezime and Elmer; and a sister, Lorene Westman. A00003B2000JA31