William "Bill" Belleau, 90, of Green Bay/ De Pere, passed away on the Feast of the Guardian Angels, October 2, 2015 at the WI Veterans Home in King, WI due to cancer. He was born January 15, 1925 in Algoma, WI, son of the late Louis and Theresa (Lidral) Belleau. Bill graduated from Central Catholic High School in Green Bay in 1943 and the University of Minnesota in 1952 with a bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, taking after his father. He served in the U.S. Army, European Theatre in WWII, where he was stationed in England. On December 28, 1950 he married Constance Christie in Minneapolis. Bill ran the Belleau Drug Store in various Green Bay locations, including taking over his dad's store at 700 S. Broadway. He also worked at various stores/clinics throughout the state through the years. Bill loved reading, classical music, the outdoors (hunting and fishing), bowling, cribbage, and the Packers.
Bill questioned quite early all the big changes the Catholic Church underwent after Vatican Council II, and was an early church member of St. Michael's in De Pere, the country's oldest church built to only offer the Latin Tridentine Mass. For many years, he attended two Sunday Masses, one offered for those who wanted to attend the Latin Tridentine Mass, but couldn't due to distance, and one offered for those who should be attending, but wouldn't.
Bill is survived by two sons, Greg of Newfoundland, Canada, and Paul in California; his daughter, Beverly (Belleau) School, Appleton; a sister, Betty Belleau, Seattle; sister-in-law, Nora Belleau, De Pere; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; son, Charlie Belleau; sister, Alice (Belleau) Gwaltney; brother, George Belleau; as well as seven infant brothers.
Friends and family may call at RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 305 North Tenth St., De Pere, on Wednesday, October 7, 2015 beginning at 4:00pm. Rosary services will be held at 7:00pm to bring the evening to a close. Visitation will continue at St. Michael's, 1782 Chapelle Rue Dr., on Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 9:30am until 10:30am when a Traditional Latin Requiem Mass will be held, Fr. Steven McDonald SSPX, officiating. Burial in Fort Howard Memorial Park. Please visit www.ryanfh.com to send online condolences to the family.
The family would like to extend their thanks to Fr. McDonald, to the kind staff at King Veterans Home (especially Carrie and Andrea), to the ThedaCare Hospice team, to Dr. Gautum and his oncology staff at Aurora BayCare, and Ryan Funeral Home. A thank you also to Dave Belleau, Ken, the residents/friends at Nicolet Terrace, and his friends at St. Michael's.