William (Bill) T. Snebold Jr.

Bill Snebold of La Crosse, Wisconsin, age 84, passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at Riverside Transitional Care in La Crosse. Bill was born on March 14, 1940 in Fort Worth, Texas - the oldest of four children to William T. Snebold, Sr. and Cwright (Clower) Snebold. The family soon moved to Palos Verdes Estates, California - a suburb of Los Angeles. Like generations before him, Bill learned to hunt birds and fish, interests he carried throughout life. 

While attending the University of Nevada, Reno, Bill joined the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and fell in love with a Delta Delta Delta sorority girl named Valerie Van Nepes from San Francisco. Their first speaking encounter happened when Bill drove beside her in his MG convertible. Bill kicked his frat buddy out of the car and circled back to talk to Val as she walked to class. “Hop in! Let me give you a lift.” They wed in Reno in 1962 and began raising a family, eventually settling in Santa Rosa, CA where Bill commuted over the Golden Gate Bridge every day in his role as a loan officer at a Volkswagen Dealership. In 1976, Bill and Val and their three sons, inspired by their love of the outdoors, ventured far outside their wheelhouse to buy a dairy farm near Bagley, Minnesota. As California city kids, Bill and Val shared their love of the Minnesota outdoors. After ten years in that difficult farming role, Bill ditched the work boots and started wearing a tie in his new career as a tax assessor, eventually taking on the roll of City Tax Assessor in Bemidji, MN where he worked until retiring in 2002. 

Some of Bill’s greatest joys were his fishing trips to Lac Seul, a reservoir in northwestern Ontario, Canada. He loved getting up there with friends from Bagley and coworkers from Bemidji City Hall. Having memorized the lay of the land over the years, Bill would often guide others through the vast waters of Ontario without the aid of GPS. Bill’s trips to Canada were always a highlight for him every summer.

Bill and Val shared a special bond of marriage that grew for fifty years, until she passed on October 23, 2012. They shared a love of family, reading, bicycling, and travel. In retirement, Bill and Val once vacationed in London, England. Adventures with west coast family members were always cherished. 

Starting in 2013, Bill cast his line in the pond of online dating, soon developing a fond relationship with Delores Holweg of Park Rapids, MN. Together, Bill and Delores took on the title of ‘snowbird’ with enthusiasm, vacationing in Port Aransas, TX and other points south, including Costa Rica. 

After a scary bicycle accident in the summer of 2021, Bill moved to La Crosse, WI to be near family. In these last years, still good-natured and semi-independent, Bill enjoyed reading in the sun, and eating breakfast or lunch at a few of his favorite local restaurants. 

A funeral service will be held at a later date in early Summer of 2025 at St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral in La Crosse, WI. In lieu of flowers, please consider monetary donations to the Bagley Senior Citizen Center in Bagley, MN. Bill was an active member for many years delivering meals on wheels to those in need. 

Bill is survived by his sons, Jason (Kelly) Snebold of Rockford, IL, Matt Snebold of La Crosse, WI, and John (Donna) Snebold of Florence, KY; grandchildren on Jason’s side: Matt, Sarah, Shanna, and Jordan; grandchildren on John’s side, Savannah, Josh, and Jordan. Bill is survived by one sibling, Gus (Chris) Snebold of Henderson, NV; also survived by brother-in-law, Will (Kim) Dolan of Litchfield, MN, and sister-in-law, Kassey (Paul) Dolan-King of Walnut Creek, CA. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Jimmy Snebold and Suzanne (Dave) Whitmore; and by his bride, Valerie.

 Donations in memory of Bill may be made to the Bagley Senior Center, 26 Main Ave N, Bagley, MN 56621.