William F. Reynolds

SUN PRAIRIE - William F. Reynolds, age 87, of Sun Prairie, formerly of Marietta, Ohio, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. Bill had a full life working in many parts of this country, and living overseas in many countries including Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Taiwan. He started his career as a draftsman for engineering companies, and progressed to chemical and mechanical engineering roles in building power plants (coal, nuclear, and solar). He loved and adored his wife, Betty, of 65 years, and football (not always in that order!). In his early years he enjoyed playing basketball, racquetball, and handball. In later years, he researched genealogy and World War II battleships. Bill served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS LST 820, and went aground during the typhoon of 1945 in Kagoshima Kaiwan, Japan. 3,700 people were lost that day. Bill considered that a turning point in his life, and honored that day each year as the day "God spared my life". Bill is survived by his wife, Betty (Pettit) Reynolds, Sun Prairie; his daughters, Vicki (Andy) Beltz, Middletown, Ohio, and Joni Mast and her husband David Gieck, Sun Prairie; grandchildren, Stacie Arellano, B.J. (Becca) Mast, Elizabeth Beltz, and Abbey (Nathan) Byrne; great-grandson, Isaac Mast; nieces and nephews, Sandy, Debbie, Becky, Lynn, Kelly, Tracy, Patrick, and Kristin; brothers and sister in-law, Harry (Jean) Pettit, Jim (Marilyn) Pettit, and Patty Uhl. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at GRACE EVANGELICAL CHURCH, 4127 County AB (E. Buckeye Rd), Madison, with 11 a.m. service, and a short graveside service at Roselawn in Monona.