William "Bill" Kerry

On October 4, 2023, William Kerry, 90 years, of Onalaska, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, with family around him.

Bill was born in Portlaoise, County Laois, Ireland in 1933 to Joseph and Kathleen Kerry. Bill was the second oldest of nine children. He is survived solely by his sister Elizabeth “Babs” Collins.

In 1955, Bill moved to America with his young family and was joined with a couple of his siblings. They settled in Chicago, IL. Bill drove a bus for the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) for many years and loved his various routes. Bill’s second career was tending bar in his beloved “Kerry’s Korner” in Midway, WI. It was here that Bill and his wife Delores made their life together.  Bill and Delores loved engaging with their customers, always coming up with new ways to make those long bar days fun.  Whether it was a golf outing, a bus trip to see the Packers, or corned beef dinners on St. Patrick’s Day, they kept it lively.

He was proceeded in death by Delores (Bartoszewski) Kerry, his wife of 40 years.  Bill and Delores were fond of Irish Setters, owning 7 of them throughout the years. The dogs would help mind the bar when allowed.

Bill is survived by his three children from his first marriage and their families. They include his daughter Colleen Kerry Morris Voll (Ronald), grandsons Kevin Morris and Patrick Morris, granddaughter Ryan Morris Myers (Kevin) and great-grandson Eamonn; his son Stephen Kerry (Charlene), grandson Devin Kerry and great-grandson Mason, granddaughter Arielle Kerry (Mitch Roden), and grandson Cody Kerry; and his daughter Alanna Kerry Talles (Joseph), granddaughter Shannon Talles Sennett (Timothy Jr.), grandson Drake Talles (Angela), great-granddaughters Rowan and Delta, and great-grandson Drake Dawson.

Bill was an active member in various community organizations, with his main focus on the Lions Club, where he served as president for several terms. In his early days of living in Midway, he loved to fish and hunt, then moved onto golf – which he did as often as he could.

A visitation memorial will be held from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm on November 18th at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of Onalaska, WI, 907 Sand Lake Rd., Onalaska, WI 54650. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in his name would be greatly appreciated.