William Meythaler

William (Bill) Meythaler passed away on October 9, 2017 from C.O.P.D. at St. Mary's hospital, where he was born 71 years ago. Save for his last ten years (when he lived in Mt. Horeb), Bill was a lifelong resident of Madison, graduating from Randall, West High, and the UW - all with highest honors. After college, Bill worked two years in Cape Canaveral as a mathematician for the space program. He travelled widely, visiting 49 states and over 50 countries, including Cuba and the old Soviet Union. He travelled by rail across most of pre-industrial China, and was on one of the first guided canoe trips through MN's Boundary Waters Wilderness and one of the first guided Grand Canyon river rafting trips. A big sports fan, Bill especially loved attending Mallards baseball games; in his declining years he followed them on the radio and reminisced about having the highest batting average in the city when he played first base for West High. Politics also interested Bill and he once ran for alderman, placing second in a field of five; he was president of his Beta Theta Pi fraternity pledge class. He continued through his middle years his childhood hobbies of baseball card, stamp, and coin collecting and was a member of Madison coin and stamp clubs. An avid reader, Bill frequented independent bookstores and subscribed to numerous magazines and newspapers. Although often experiencing poor health, Bill lived a full life. He'll be especially remembered for his irrepressible sense of humor and his devotion to his loving Mother, Dorothy Kraege, who passed away just three weeks after he did. (See her obituary this page.)

He is survived by his sister, Jo Ann (Meythaler) Berg of Mt. Horeb (formerly of Ann Arbor, MI); his nephew, Hans Berg of Empire, CO; and several cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Lester Meythaler (in 1964); his grandparents Olaus and Jeannette (Fosshage) Mickelson of Mt. Horeb; and all his many aunts and uncles, including Gaylord Mickelson of Mt. Horeb.

Details for services are pending.

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Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Rd., Madison
608-238-3434