William "Bill" Patrick Patterson

William Patrick “Bill” Patterson, 82, of La Crosse, died on Monday, October 17, 2022 at the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse. He was born on October 6, 1940 in Chippewa Falls to William D. and Ruby A. (Murphy) Patterson. Bill served his church as an altar boy and was a successful high school football player. After graduation he had a long two week stay at the University of Wisconsin Stout where he always said, “he went in the front door and out the side window.” He enlisted in the US Army in 1959. He married his beautiful bride Shirley Ann Bien and they started out their lives together in Chituse, Japan, SP-45. They moved back to the United States in 1962 where he started a long, successful career in sales at Triangle Refineries Oil Co., in Edina, MN, then American Freight in Apple Valley, MN, Yellow Freight Sales in Owatonna, MN and finally Old Dominion Sales in La Crosse where he retired.

Bill enjoyed many hours on the golf course and religious and political debates with his siblings. He enjoyed many years camping and boating with family and friends, the Boundary Waters, and many state and national parks throughout the country. Bill was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Religious Education teacher, and a reader and usher at St. Joseph Ridge Parish. Bill’s Christian faith and service to others was strong. Bill always put his family first and foremost, making sure they had a good life. Bill cherished his many friends, especially his many avid golf buddies. He will be sadly and deeply missed by all that knew him. He always gave 110% of himself to his family, friends, and the communities he lived in. He will always be loved by many. Good night, sleep tight, until we meet again Dad.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Shirley Ann, and would have celebrated their 63 ^rd Anniversary on October 24 ^th , 2022, three sons, William J. (Rita) Patterson of Wabasha, MN, Brian P. (Patricia) Patterson of Ellsworth, WI, and Jeffrey A. (David Billups) Patterson of Somerset, KY, and daughter Jodi A. Holmberg of La Crosse, eleven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Betty “Sis” Patterson and Bonnie Hayes, and a brother Robert Patterson.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph Ridge. Father Biju Chennala Kunjukutty will officiate. Friends may call at the church on Friday from 4:00 – 7:00 PM where a Rosary will be recited at 6:30 PM, and again on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the time of services. Burial will follow on Saturday at 3:30 PM in Holy Rosary Cemetery, Lima, WI.