William “Bill” Altom, 91, of Coloma, passed on to his eternal home in Heaven on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at home with his wife, daughter, and several grandchildren.
A memorial service was held on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sister Lakes with interment planned at North Shore Memory Gardens at a later date. Arrangements are by the Florin Funeral Service & Cremation Service.
William was born to Meekie and Luther Altom on Feb. 28, 1933, in Dexter, MO. Beginning his careers working at restaurants in the St. Louis area as a short order cook, he then moved to Michigan and began working at the Sinclair Gas Station in St. Joseph. He later was employed at Avion Coach Travel Trailers, working assembly, cabinetry, electrician, and as a foreman. He retired from Ace Hardware in Benton Harbor.
An avid flee marketer, Bill enjoyed collecting Depression glass and pottery, and his collection of old lunch boxes brought many hours of happy hunting. Never too old to play, he had a collection of model trains that he tinkered with, to the delight of his grandchildren. Bill was a long-standing member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church is Sister Lakes, where he faithfully served many roles.
While working at the Sinclair Gas Station, he met the love of his life Lillian, and they were married in June of 1959. They quickly merged their two families together into one big, happy family with 11 children.
William is survived by his wife, Lillian (Baushke) Altom; sons Richard (Lynn) Winslow, Rob (Lowenda) Altom, Jeff (Stephanie) Altom; daughters Debra (Chuck) Terry, June Altom; son-in-law Wayne (Ruth) Neeley, daughter-in-law Nancy (Floyd) Winslow; 17 grandchildren and 40-plus great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and children, Floyd Winslow, Ruth Neeley, Sharon Tunstill, Pauline Morris, Mary Lock, and Steve Altom, and his sons-in-law, Don Lock, Randy Morris, and Chuck Terry.
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