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William O. Sijan, 85

William “Bill” Sijan peacefully passed on Sunday, April 29, 2018, surrounded by the love of his wife and children. He was born on Oct. 10, 1932, in Toledo, Ohio, to Mary D. and Milan W. Sijan. He grew up in Waterville, Ohio, where he loved fly fishing in the Maumee River.

After graduation from Waterville High School in 1950, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving four years of active duty during the Korean conflict and another four years in the Naval Reserve.

Bill graduated from Bowling Green State University, Ohio, in 1960 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. While in college, he met and married his wife of 61 years, Donna Williams of Warren, Ohio. After graduation, Bill worked for Gulf Oil Corporation in Toledo and Copper Tire and Rubber in Findlay, Ohio. In 1968 he was employed by the Delco Chassis Division of General Motors Corporation at Sandusky, Ohio, as a production control supervisor. He retired in 1992.

Bill enjoyed fly fishing, boating, and walleye fishing in Lake Erie; and camping and fishing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Traveling was a leisure pursuit that took his family on trips throughout the United States. He loved music, especially jazz, and sang in a number of local theater productions.

In 2009, after living on Catawba Island in Port Clinton, Ohio, for 40 years, Bill and his wife moved to beautiful Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. A lifelong Methodist, he was a member of Community United Methodist Church on Hanley.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert “Bob” of Huron, Ohio, and John “Jack” of Toledo, as well as two grandsons, Joel Ryan Pollard and Brian Lee Pollard. He is survived by his wife, Donna; sister, Dana Hull of Ann Arbor, Mich.; daughter, Valerie (Jonny) Voucher of Galena, Mo.; daughter, Cynthia Sijan of Arizona and Alaska; son, William H. (Jennifer) Sijan of Columbus, Ohio; son, Tod A. (Michele) Sijan of Rohnert Park, Calif.; 10 living grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family of William O. Sijan is deeply grateful to the staff and employees of Garden Plaza of Post Falls for their kind concern and helpfulness. We thank Home Instead helpers and Hospice of North Idaho for making Bill’s care easier. A special thanks to Dr. Chad Peterson of North Idaho Urology and Mike Szymanski of Heritage Health for their guidance through Bill’s illness. The comforting support to our family and gentle attention to Bill at the Schneidmiller Hospice House is truly appreciated.

A memorial service is pending. Memories of Bill may be shared on his online memorial site at www.englishfuneralchapel.com