William Richard Eberhardt

William “Bill” Eberhardt, 71, of Harrisville, died Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at his home. He was born August 3, 1944, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to William R. and Louise (Wyman) Eberhardt. He was baptized in First German Lutheran Church of Manitowoc. In September 1962, he entered military service and served two tours of duty in Vietnam, surviving multiple rocket artillery and ground attacks on his base. Retiring from the military in 1983, he worked in Civil Service for the Defense Department for ten years and then for the US Postal Service for fifteen years, before retiring in rural Harrisville. Bill was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Lincoln, serving on the church council. He was an avid deer hunter, military rifle competition shooter, gardener, and doted on his grandchildren. He was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans and the National Rifle Association and also participated in the Civilian Marksmanship Program at Camp Perry, Ohio. Bill is survived by his wife, Julie; Father, William (Ruth) Eberhardt Sr. of Janesville, Wisconsin, two brothers, Ralph (Marilyn) Eberhardt of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and Richard Eberhardt of Racine, Wisconsin; two daughters, Norma Spano of Wauwautosa, Wisconsin, and Jessica (Matt) Keyser of Barton City, Michigan; stepson Mitch Tanabu of Green Bay, Wisconsin, two brothers-in-law Michael (Emelyn) Ranger of Midwest, Oklahoma, and Douglas (Cathy) Ranger of Carthage, North Carolina; two sisters-in-law, Jill (Peter) McLaughlin of Wakefield, Rhode Island, and Gail (Mark) Elliott of West Liberty, Ohio, four grandchildren, Ben Spano, and Trinity, Brielle, and Jaxen Keyser, a nephew, and eight nieces. He was preceded in death by his mother, stepmother, Thelma (Ely) Eberhardt, and much loved feline companions Zeke and Charlie. There will be a memorial service Wednesday, February 3, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lincoln. Rev. Jacob Schwartz will officiate. Memorial donations suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church, Lincoln, or the Wounded Warrior Foundation. Cremation arrangements were made through Gillies Funeral Home, Lincoln. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Richard Eberhardt, please visit our flower store.