William H. Libby

William “Bill” Libby, age 99, of Hudson, WI, formerly of Tucson, AZ, passed away peacefully at home the morning of Tuesday, March 9, 2021, surrounded by loved ones. Bill was born one of two sons to parents Edward and Marian Libby on January 25, 1922, in Winona, MN. He grew up in Winona alongside his brother, Chuck, attending the Winona School system until high school graduation in 1940.

After high school, Bill attended Carleton College in Northfield, MN, majoring in Chemistry and becoming a track star. Then he put his education on hold to join the Army Air Corps in 1942. He was trained as a B-17 pilot, flying 19 missions during the war time with the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was wed to Margaret “Peg” Seaton on July 2, 1944, and they are the parents of a daughter and son, Susan and Edward. Upon completing his tour of duty in 1945, he returned to Carleton College and graduated in 1946. He then attended the University of Illinois, attaining his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1949. His first job was at General Aniline and Film in Easton, PA until moving to St. Paul, MN in 1953 to work for 3M Company, which he retired as Director of Marketing in the Engineering Systems Division in 1985.

On November 25, 1992, he married Marlene Martinson in Tucson, AZ. They purchased a house in Sun City Vistoso, Oro Valley, AZ in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains. They had the best of both worlds – Tucson in the winter and Amery, WI in the summer. Coming from a small family, Bill enjoyed a huge family for many years. During their 28 years of marriage, Bill was adored and loved by all of his extended family. In 2014, Bill and Marlene returned to Wisconsin on a permanent basis. Soon after, they joined Bethel Lutheran Church. Bill was a devout Christian who found lifelong peace and comfort in his faith. He enjoyed playing golf, watching sports of all kinds, working puzzles, reading books, cooking, and extensive traveling in both the USA and worldwide.

Bill will remain in the hearts of his beloved wife, Marlene; his children, Sue (John) Thompson of Lakeland, FL, and Edward Libby of Northbrook, IL; step-children, Robbin (John Krear) Simon of Baldwin, WI, Mark (Jodie) Simon of Trego, WI, Todd (Audrey) Simon of Prescott, WI, and Troy (Lisa) Simon of St. Paul, MN; 21 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; nieces, Judy Porter, Patricia Trout, & Melissa King; as well as many other extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Peg; his parents, Edward and Marian; brother, Chuck; nephew, Michael; brothers-in-law, Eugene, James, Charles, Virgil, and Arden Martinson; and granddaughter, Olivia Simon.

A Memorial Celebration of Life Service for Bill will take place at 11:00 A.M, Thursday, May 20th, 2021 at Bethel Lutheran Church: Highlands Campus, 504 Frontage Rd. Hudson, WI, 54016, with a one hour visitation prior to the service. A Private Interment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN. Services entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 11th Street S., Hudson, WI 54016, 715-386-3725, info@oconnellfuneralhomes.com. Memorials are preferred to Bethel Lutheran Church, https://bethelhudson.org/give/, or Food for the Poor, https://www.foodforthepoor.org/help-now/.