On Saturday, October 14, 2023, there was a solar eclipse at 11:56 a.m. And that was the moment William James Garner left this earth and his grieving family. He died at UW Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin after years of battling multiple health challenges.
Billy was born in Fort Madison, Iowa on July 3, 1949 to William A. and Helen K. Garner. The Garner family owned and operated Garner Oil for decades. It was loved and known for many things; among them, a series of devoted pre-dawn coffee clubs, the neon clock, Billy’s warm welcoming service, and the cleanest bathrooms in town. In the 1970’s, you may have also spotted Joe the monkey swinging in the trees nearby.
He married Kitty on September 5, 1981 and together they enjoyed movies, gardening, dozens of pets, and even working. On his own, Billy was a master morel hunter, known far and wide for his jeep full of mushrooms. He also loved to fish and had many adventures in life, including summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 2003 and rafting the Grand Canyon in 2007. He and Kitty retired in 2010, eventually landing in Madison, WI to enjoy time with family and help raise their grandchildren.
Survivors are his wife Kitty, son Aaron Rippenkroeger, daughter Abby Siegel, sister Mary Petersen, and grandchildren Anika, Mac, and May.
Let it be known, Bill Garner fought long and hard to stay with us as long as he could. He made us laugh until his last day. We are so grateful as well as heartbroken.
Family and friends will gather on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 10 AM – 12 PM at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory. A private burial will be in Oakland Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to P.A.W. Animal Shelter. Online condolences may be left at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website: www.kinglynk.com.
