WILLIAM “BILL” PFAFF
WILLIAM “BILL” PFAFF
William John Pfaff, 86, passed away Wednesday evening, April 26, 2023, at Gundersen Harmony Care Center in Harmony, MN.
Bill was born July 4, 1936, to Lawrence and Grace Pfaff in Mindoro, WI. He graduated from Mindoro High School. After graduation, he worked for a short time at Trane Company in La Crosse.
Bill met his future wife, Marilyn, at the roller rink in West Salem; they were married in West Salem Aug. 4, 1956. After working in the city for a few years, Bill talked his new wife into moving to the country where the two of them began working side-by-side on a dairy farm they bought in Melrose, WI.
Bill and Marilyn welcomed four children, JoDee, Terrance, Paulette and Steven. In 1964, they moved their family to a farm in Alma Center. Bill had a keen sense when it came to developing the family’s herd of registered Holsteins. It never took him long to spot a good cow as well as one that wasn’t feeling well.
As a young family, they didn’t take much time away from the farm; he always believed he needed to keep an eye on things, “make sure they got done right.” When the kids got older, Bill and Marilyn were able to travel and did so with their good friends, making many special memories.
Bill and Marilyn eventually moved to Harmony, MN, where Bill farmed with his son, Terrance. He was still going to the farm every day helping in any way he could, until a little over three months ago, when he was diagnosed with cancer. He fought his cancer battle with strength and dignity.
Bill is survived by his children JoDee Brooke, Alma Center, WI, Terrance, Harmony, MN, and Steven (Kristin), Alma Center; his son-in-law Steven Powell, Merrillan, WI; grandchildren Lyndsey Kampen, Casey Pfaff (Dakota), Mitchel Pfaff, Jordan Powell, Brent Powell, Larissa Pfaff (Miller Gruenewald), Taylor Brooke, McKenna Powell, Hannah Brooke (Caleb Brueggeman), Nick Nauman, Eli Powell, Olivia Pfaff (Sam Rogstad), Shawn Pfaff and Gracie Pfaff; great-grandchildren Emma Kampen, Chase Kampen, Isla Pfaff, Arian Brueggeman and Lainey Rogstad; his brother Kenneth (Harriet), Mindoro, WI, and sister Nancy (John) Bradley, La Crosse, WI, and many nieces and nephews he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn, his parents, daughter Paulette Powell, great-granddaughters Olivia Brooke and Taytum Rogstad; and brother Tom. He was also preceded in death by brothers- and sisters-in-law Ervin and Serena LeJune and Harold and Ardell Hilt.
All through his life, Bill continued to enjoy watching a good cow show or walking among the cows as they meandered around him chewing their cud. He enjoyed planting flowers in the spring in his later years, but was pretty busy planting their farm’s crops for the year up until that time. More than anything, he loved his family and those who became family because of the special bond he formed with them. He fought so hard to stay.
A celebration of Bill’s life is being held Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Garden Valley Gatherings (W13072 St. Rd. 121, Alma Center).