William "Bill" Landing

William “Bill” Landing, 90, Appleton, passed away on March 19, 2016, at Bridges of Appleton Hospice Care. He is the son of the late Harold and Isabelle Landing. Bill enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially at his cottage in the north woods of Wisconsin, which is what he loved and knew best. He took several hunting trips out west for big game and to South Dakota on pheasant hunts. Bill’s real passion was whitetail deer hunting, which he spoke of throughout the year and had a tremendous recall of specific deer and the years that he got them. “We hunted together until he was 86 years old and he never lost a bit of enthusiasm for it,” his son Tim said.

Mr. Landing was born and raised in Edmonton, Canada until he was 12 years. At that point his family moved to Rhinelander, Wis., where he graduated from high school. Bill enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II and achieved the rank of First Class Gunners Mate. Like many World War II veterans, he rarely spoke of battles but often shared light-hearted stories of shipmates’ antics, his son Tim said.

Bill served in the Atlantic and Pacific Theatre of War on a Destroyer Escort USS Snowden (DE246). Mr. Landing exemplified what it means to be a product of the “greatest generation.” He was a private man of few words but always meant what he said. And for any deal, all it took was his word and a handshake.

After his honorable discharge in 1946, he continued to serve in the reserves. Shortly after he settled in Milwaukee, where he attended Marquette University while raising a family, shortly before moving to Port Washington.

Mr. Landing worked at International Harvester for 34 years, mostly in management, until his retirement. He later worked for several years at Mounty Mary College in Milwaukee as a boiler fireman.

Bill was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Appleton, and a proud member of the National Rifle Association and Ducks Unlimited. He was also a member of the Destroyer Escort Sailors Association (DESA) and looked forward to reunions. Bill was an avid Packers and Badgers fan as well.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn, Appleton; three sons, Dr. Ed (Jeanne Finley) Landing, Albany, NY, Hal (Joanne) Landing, Grafton, and Timothy (Charlene) Landing, Fredonia; sister-in-law, June Landing, Davenport, IA; three grandchildren, Joshua, Tamara, and Melissa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Isabelle; his wife, Helen; granddaughter, Victoria “Tori”; brother, James Landing; nephew, Larry.

Private memorial services were held in honor of Mr. Landing’s life. Simply Cremation in Green Bay assisted the family with services, (920) 431-0100.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association in Bill’s honor.