Bill passed away peacefully on Monday, July 13, 2026.

Born on October 5, 1939, at St. Mary's Hospital in Columbus, Wisconsin, Bill was the son of William E. and Ruth Morgan Jones. He grew up on the family dairy farm in Calamus and attended a local one-room schoolhouse before graduating from Columbus High School in 1957, where he excelled in football and played tuba in the band. He earned his bachelor's degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Wisconsin in 1961, during which time he proudly played tuba for the UW Marching Band. Bill also served in the Wisconsin Air National Guard from 1957 to 1963.

Bill enjoyed a long and varied career in purchasing and business. After starting as a commodity buyer on the Chicago Board of Trade and in New York for CPC Intl., he returned to Madison to work for Wisco Hardware Co. and later as a purchasing agent for UW–Madison. While at the university, he met Margaret "Peg" Sterner at a wine tasting. The two were married on July 4, 1970.

His career took the family to the East Coast, where Bill managed nationwide food, beverage, and locomotive purchases for Amtrak in Washington, D.C., and later founded his own brokerage firm, PPF Inc., in Maryland. In 1982, the family relocated abroad, living in Naples, Italy, and Würzburg, Germany, while Bill served in civilian positions with the military. They returned home to Waunakee, Wisconsin, in 1999, where Bill later worked for US Bank until retiring in 2008.

Avid travelers, Bill and Peg explored 49 states and more than 30 foreign countries together. Bill was active in his community as a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Waunakee, Columbus Masonic Lodge #75, Zor Shriners, Madison Shrine Club, and the Zor Camel Patrol.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Sharron (Colorado Springs, CO); sons, Tony (Eugene, OR) and Michael (Mountain View, CA); sister-in-law, Susie (Tom) Hacker; brother-in-law, Edwin (Kathy) Sterner; eight grandchildren (Kristin, Chip, Billy, Bobby, Francesca, Liam, Kieran and Meghan); and three great-grandchildren (Colt, Jax and AJ).

He was preceded in death by his wife, Peg; his parents; his sister, Joan (Murad) Gengozian; his brothers, Douglas (Joyce) and Dayton (Karen); and his infant brother, Owen.

A Memorial service will be held on Sat. Aug. 22, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 5763 County Rd Q Waunakee. Friends may call at the church on Sat. from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services. Burial will take place in Bethel Cemetery in the Town of Elba.

Winn-Cress Funeral Service

2929 Peaceful Valley Pkwy

Waunakee, WI