Hatch, William Herbert, age 86
William Herbert Hatch (Bill or “Red”), age 86 died August 13, 2017, at his home. Bill was the son of Samuel and Flora (Gauger) Hatch and was born on December 14, 1930, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Bill moved with his family to Pittsville, Wisconsin, when he was 8 years old and attended Pittsville Schools where he graduated from high school.
He met and married his high school sweetheart, Jean Ellen Arnold, in 1949. They shared 67 years of marriage. Bill started working at a young age when his family purchased the Pittsville Mercantile Store in 1938. After high school, he worked in the road construction industry throughout the midwest. After 7 years on the road, he took a job in the Wisconsin Rapids Foundry for the next 5 years. In 1962, he returned to the road construction industry when he joined the Arthur Overgaard Company of Elroy, Wisconsin, and within 6 years he become a partner, at which time he moved his family to Mauston, Wisconsin, to be closer to the home office. He remained at Overgaard until the sale of the company to Mathy Construction of Onalaska, Wisconsin, in 1982. Bill’s early retirement at the age of 52 left him determined to find something to do. Bill and his wife, Jean, started Cranberry Creek Cranberries, Inc., in 1984. A lot of hard work, long hours, long nights, and determination proved to be a winning combination as it became the largest contiguous marsh in operation in Wisconsin. During Bill’s 33 years in the industry, he was always looking for new ways to improve the business. He never retired from the marsh, but continued to deliver parts and operate heavy equipment until March of 2017 at the age of 86.
Bill shared that there are only a few opportunities in life that are really meaningful. For him, one of those was his and Jean’s ability to generously donate to and become the moving force to build and establish the Hatch Public Library. The Library will continue to serve the people of the greater Mauston community for many years to come with over 217,000 people having passed through the doors last year. St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Necedah also recognized Bill for donating his time, equipment and expertise to clear and grade the site for the new church in 2001.
Bill is survived by his wife, Jean, and his children Jo Mazula of Boulder, Colorado; Cinda Fischer of North Carolina; William (Sandy) of Necedah; and Suzan Hatch of Longmont, Colorado. He is also survived by his grandchildren Justin and Eric (Hayley) Mazula; Timothy (Ashley) and Cory Gilmer, Lita (Alex) Cabrera, Tylea (Stephen) Herwegnen, Tyson Gilmer; Jason (Tanya) Hatch; Maxim Mascolo. His surviving great-grandchildren Isabella, William and Leopold Mazula; Sage and Addison Gilmer; Evan, Jalen and Ava Hatch; and his sister, Carol Leonard.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his infant daughter Denna, his grand-daughter Deena Hatch, and his son-in-law, Peter Mazula.
The family has requested no flowers or plants. Memorials may be made to the Hatch Public Library in Mauston; The Deena Hatch Foundation, Necedah; or Hospice Touch of Tomah.
A special thank you to Hospice Touch of Tomah for the wonderful care that they provided Bill during his final months.
A Celebration of Life will be held for Bill at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 19, 2017 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Necedah. Burial will be at St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery.
Friends may call on Friday, August 18th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Crandall Funeral Home, Mauston and on Saturday, August 19th from10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church.
For online condolences please go to www.crandallfuneral.com
Source: WRJC.com
News At Other State Sites:
[wp-rss-aggregator source=”87908,87904,713,696,676″]
WISCONSINREPORT.COM (WiscReport.com) is not affiliated with Wisconsin Government or any state agency, department, entity, or other website or printed publication with Wisconsin in it’s name. Established in 2002, we operate completely independent from political parties and other forms of outside influence. Our Mission is to report the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. We are WiscReport on Twitter and Facebook. A Morbizco Internet Media online publication. – WisconsinReport.com.
Learn More about WisconsinReport.com.
