William Francis Fitzgerald Jr., 98, of Stanwood, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2025 at Faith Hospice Trillium Woods in Bryon Center, Michigan surrounded by his children. He was born in Detroit on February 23, 1927 to William Francis Fitzgerald and Ella Belle (Chrystler) Fitzgerald.

Bill shared countless stories of his childhood, growing up in Detroit with his five sisters and two brothers. He was raised by a devoted mother and a stern Irish father who was fortunate to serve as a Detroit Police Officer during the Depression. Bill served in the US Navy from 1947 to 1957, during the Korean War, where he was a 40 MM Gunner and learned the trade of underwater welding, while serving on the USS Los Angeles, the USS Juneau along with the USS Deliver over his military career.

An avid sports enthusiast, Bill was sure to keep you abreast of the current games, from local high schools to professional sports of all kinds. He played baseball for several years and was a head coach in the Big Rapids little league, and a regular spectator at his grandchildren's sports events. In his younger years, Bill was a regular bowler at many of the bowling allies in the surrounding area.

For 20 years, Bill worked as a Welding Foreman with Hanchett Manufacturing. In his retirement years, he and his twin brother went on several excursions traveling to military cemeteries, seeking out ancestor's headstones as they dabbled into the family history. He was a regular at the Mecosta County Senior Center where he was a Champion Euchre player.

Bill also enjoyed gardening and could often be found clearing the weeds. He spent many years building and flying remote control model airplanes and was always tinkering on some type of project. Bill was not a man to sit still and would travel the countryside, popping in on family and friends for a cup of coffee and always lots of stories and laughs. He was sure to tell you a joke to put a smile on your face before he walked out the door. He will be dearly missed.

In 1954 Bill married his first love, Della Mae Crouch. Together they had three children: Tamar (Michael) Aldrich of Vernon, Kathryn (Bruce) Hunt of Hersey, and William (Tania) Fitzgerald of Doral, FL. Della preceded him in death in 1965. Bill then married Barbara Venlet combining his three children with her two children: Robert Venlet of Big Rapids and Regina (Charles) Jaent of Greenville. Together they had two children: Cheryl (Scott) Johansen, of Comstock Park, and Mark (Sabrina) Fitzgerald, of Rockford, MI.

He loved his 10 grandchildren and was always eager to see them: Jessica (Theodore) Gruden of Texas, Saundra Waters of Chesterfield, MI, Christopher (Kristina) Fitzgerald of Wyoming, MI, Kaitlyn (Russ) Swierkowski of California, Shannon (Timothy) Martz of Big Rapids, Alexandra Berry of Petoskey, Rachel Berry of Indiana, Sierra Fitzgerald of California, William Fitzgerald IV and Matthew Fitzgerald, both of Florida, and his 10 great grandchildren: Brantley, MaryJane, Jacqueline, and Sylvia Martz of Big Rapids; Ella, Anna, and Theodore Grunden of Texas; Everett & Scarlett Waters of Chesterfield, MI; and Malcolm Pulaski of Petoskey. Bill has one surviving sister, Betty Jean (Charles) Collins of New York, and numerous nieces and nephews of whom he was very fond.

Bill was born with a twin brother, Robert Lewis Fitzgerald, also of Stanwood, who preceded him in death in 2014. Additional siblings that have preceded in death are Phyllis (Robert) Hayball, Edna (Victor) Painter, Lucille (Paul) Denton, Edward Fitzgerald and Lois (William) Viergever.

Arrangements are in the care of Daggett Gilbert Funeral Homes, Big Rapids. Visitation will take place on Friday, October 24, 2025 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 12:00 noon. A second visitation will take place at 11:00 AM, one hour prior to the funeral service. A luncheon will follow the service at the Morley American Legion from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Bill will be laid to rest at the Fairview Cemetery on Elder Drive in Stanwood at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Hospice Trillium Woods at https://faithhospicecare.org/donate/#make-donation.