On the morning of August 4, 2022, William (Bill) Frederick Thisius passed away at the age of 88. He was born to Wilbert and Agnes Thisius in Racine, Wisconsin on April 23, 1934.

After Bill's father purchased farmland in southern Minnesota, the family moved there and Bill graduated from Freeborn High School in 1951. Bill excelled at math and drafting while in school, so he pursued an education and got work experience at Watrous Company, Honeywell and Beloit Iron Works before joining the U.S. Armed Forces.

While working in Beloit, he met and won the heart of Clara Kamm, marrying her in 1957. When he took Clara (Bunny) to meet his parents, Bill's father asked Bunny her last name again, because he had had a teacher named Kamm. It turned out that Bill's father's teacher many years before was Clara's Aunt, Zella Kamm.

After serving in the U.S. Army, he returned to the Midwest with his young family. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin as an Electrical Engineer, working for Univac and Honeywell.

Together they raised three children and lived in Circle Pines, Minnesota and in Edmonds,  Washington. After the children all grew up, they lived at Shelter Bay in La Conner, Washington and most recently the La Conner Retirement Inn.

Bill enjoyed boating throughout Pacific Northwest waters, from Ilwaco to Neah Bay on the Washington coast and southern Puget Sound all the way north to the Gulf Islands in Canada. Storytelling, joke telling, fishing, camping and gunkholing were his favorite things. He was active in Puget Sound Power Squadron teaching all levels of boating safety and navigation. He served as Commander in the Power Squadron for three years. Other interests included bluegrass music, fine woodworking and ham radio operation.

He is preceded in death by his parents Wilbert and Agnes Thisius; brothers Jack and Thomas, son Karl and niece Christina Thisius. Bill is survived by his wife Clara; daughter Karen (Bob Winchell), son Mike; sisters Wendy Stenzel and Carol (Ken Chirpich); nieces: Erin and Becky Stenzel, Susan McAllister, Pam Ikard, Laurie (Brent Robinson), Gina Thisius and nephews: Dave and Todd Thisius, Jeff (Tatum) and Scott Chirpich; granddaughters: Elaine (Ian Clark) and Sara Thisius, as well as two great granddaughters: Madeline and Avery Clark, along with many other beloved relations.

Memorial service will be Saturday August 13, 2022 at Christ the King Church in La Conner, Washington. Gathering is at 1:30pm with the service at 2pm followed by light refreshments. Please bring photos and memories to share.

For those who are unable to attend the service, a virtual memorial will be planned at a date to be determined.

Donations in memory of Bill can be sent to WoundedWarriorProject.org

To share memories of Bill, please sign the online guest register and  bookmark this direct link to share and or for return visits: www.evanschapel.com/obituary/bill-thisius