Wilhelm (Bill) H. Schleyer

Wilhelm (Bill) Heinrich Schleyer, age 85, was called home to his eternal rest with his Lord Jesus on Thursday, February 9^th, 2023.

He was born in Bamberg, Bavaria, Germany on January 21^st, 1938, to Anton Mann and Karolina Luise Schleyer. His early years were spent on the family farm. He enjoyed playing with the animals and hiking the fields and hills with his mother when time permitted.

At the age of four, he, his mother, and two sisters moved to Munich. His formative years after the war were spent there, and at the age of nineteen, he decided to head to New York City to visit an uncle who lived there. He arrived via ship in New York Harbor on June 9^th, 1958

Enjoying the hospitality of his uncle, and seeing the prosperity of the American people, he decided to stay in the U.S. One way to accomplish this was to join the military and seek his citizenship by that route. He joined the U.S. Army and on April 4^th, 1960, while stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, he completed his Declaration of Intent to become a U.S. Citizen.

One of his next duty assignments took him back to Germany. There he met a quiet, shy, but easily provoked young lady by the name of Hedwig (Heidi) Staudacher in a local establishment one evening and made a comment to her. Not realizing he was German, but only seeing the uniform of an American Soldier, she raised a ruckus and started reading him the riot act. It was not until he explained in perfect German, that he was from Germany and had joined the U.S. Army that she calmed down and a relationship began. They were married the next year on March 9^th, 1962 and had been married for 57 years when the love of his life, his “Schatze” passed in December of 2019.

Being in the military, he moved the family around a lot and spent time on many U.S. posts and in Germany. He also did two tours in Vietnam where he was awarded many honors and medals to include the Bronze Star with “V” for Valor Device as well as the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. After 21years of moving around, his last duty position brought him to Wausau, WI to be the Active Component Advisor to the 213^th Supply & Service Battalion. He and the family bought a house in Rothschild and decided to establish their own base. When the Army decided to re-locate the family again, he decided to call it quits and retire. So, after 21 years, Master Sergeant (MSG) “Wild Bill” Schleyer retired on January 31^st, 1979. The nickname “Wild Bill” came from an incident when he jumped up on a desk and started to “dress down” an officer (his Captain) for some perceived infraction. Very bold of him.

Bill and Heidi were parents to four children. Susan, Ronni (Ron), Sabine, and Christopher (Chris). They sold the Rothschild home and moved to Wausau in 1979 and raised the family in a small, cozy home on the Southeast side of town. He lived there for 40 years. He enjoyed the quiet life after retiring and spent his days outside in the yard, becoming a grill master, doing word search games (puzzle books, as he referred to them), relaxing in his easy chair, and watching movies and television.

He was able to participate in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight this past June and was assisted by his daughter Sabine Schroeder as his Guardian.

Three children survive him – Susan (Mark) Kukulka of Auburndale, Sabine (Kurt) Schroeder of Weston, and Christopher (Heidi) Schleyer of Wausau. He was also blessed with six grandchildren – Ciara (John) Kukulka-Bauer of Marshfield, Arielle (Timothy) Kukulka-Koerber of Wausau, Josiah (Caterina) Kukulka of Wausau, Isaac Kukulka of Auburndale, Alora (Adam) Schroeder-Kramer of Wausau, and Dillan Schroeder of Stevens Point. Six great grandchildren complete his legacy – Graham, Gianna, Brett, and Beckham Bauer, Mark Koerber, and Weston Kramer.

Bill was predeceased by his parents, one sister (Marta), his son Ronni, and his beloved “Schatze” Heidi.

Pall Bearers will be Adam Kramer, Christopher Schleyer, Dillan Schroeder, Isaac Kukulka, Josiah Kukulka, Kurt Schroeder, Mark Kukulka, and Timothy Koerber.

Visitation will take place at the Highland Community Church Weston Campus on Friday, February 17^th, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Worship Service will begin at 1:00 PM with a Military Honor Guard to follow.

Gifts of Monetary Value can be made out to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight in Wausau and mailed to: 225780 Rib Mountain Drive, # 234 Wausau, WI 54401