William L. Wedegartner

Bill was born January 9, 1941, in Sheboygan, Wis. Eight years later, his parents, Bill and Francis, moved him and his siblings, Peter and Barbara, to Manistique where they owned and operated Manistique Floral Flower Shop and Greenhouse. From the time he was very young, Bill worked to help make the business a success, saying “On prom night I made all my friends corsages, and before I went out the door, I made my date’s.”

Between work and school, Bill played football on one of the best teams to come out of MHS. At the end of his senior year, he made the All-Conference Team and the All-State Team as a defensive left end.

Bill attended college in Superior, Wis., but came home to work in the family business. At the age of twenty-three, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was sent to Georgia as an MP. He actually spent his time landscaping the base. Upon his release he returned home, but when his parents sold the business, he decided the flower business was not for him, so he enrolled in the Detroit Barber College. After he received his barber license, he returned to Manistique and began his life as “Bill the Barber.”

It was here that he raised his family, reconnected with old friends and family, and became active in the community. The barber shop became a center for social gatherings, reunions of old friends, and most of all, outrageous stories. Bill was famous for telling tales of the “colorful characters” he came across in his shop.

As a father, Bill took the time to teach his kids, Julie and Guy, the importance of hard work in achieving their goals. Since barbers don’t get paid vacations, they took long weekends to visit family in Wisconsin and Lower Michigan. They spent many weekends at the family cottage at Dodge Lake, where they swam, fished, and partied with family.

Bill was very active in his community, serving on the city council when he was in his twenties. The Elks Club was very important to him too. When he was a young man he served as Exalted Ruler, and his picture is still posted in the foyer, as his grandfather’s is in Manitowoc, Wis. In recent years, he worked at every chicken barbeque, and he made a great elf at the children’s Christmas parties. Crowds gathered around him to hear his “back in the day” stories.

Bill was a creative hard worker, having developed the lakefront on his beloved Dodge Lake property when he was in High School. In recent years he moved the boat house he built in high school up on the beach and added a covered porch, turning it into a welcoming little cottage. In 1998 he and Andrea put up their home and Bill finished the basement himself.

Bill and Andrea married February 17, 2006. They spent their golden years cruising on the pontoon boat with friends and family, traveling to Texas and Florida, entertaining at the lake and hanging out at the Elks. Bill also took up golf when he retired and became obsessed with it.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Frances Wedegartner, and his mother and father-in-law, Merwin and Audrey White.

He is survived by his wife, Andrea; and his daughter, Julie (Eric) Siewert; and son, Guy (Sharon) Wedegartner. He leaves two grandkids, Eric Siewert, Jr. and granddaughter, Jean-Marie (Calvin) Bass; one sister, Barbara (John) Davidson; and one brother, Peter (JoAnn) Wedegartner; his beloved dog, Murphy; and two cats, Chi-Chi, and his favorite, Milo.

A memorial service to honor Bill Wedegartner will be held at the Elks Temple on Walnut Street in Manistique on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at 2 p.m. Memorial donations may be sent to Elks Lodge 632, 213 Walnut Street, Manistique, MI 49854.

Fausett Family Funeral Homes of Manistique, Mich. is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be posted on their website at www.fausettfh.com.