William Thomas Patten Junior, a long time member of the Osceola Methodist Church, passed away peacefully at his home on January 7, 2025 at the age of 106.

Bill was born in Kansas City, MO on June 14, 1918 to William T Patten Sr. and Mabel Sheehan Patten. Bill graduated from William Chrisman High School in Kansas City in 1935 and went on to earn a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Findley College in 1941. After graduation, he went to work for Beech Aircraft. He was married to Pearl Guinn Miller on October 11, 1941. After WWII started, Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corps and entered flight training graduating as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was stationed in southern Italy and flew over 30 missions as a B-17 pilot in the European theater of operations. During the war, Bill and Pearl’s first daughter, Cheryl Gwynne, was born on June 3, 1944.

After the war, Bill took a position with Butler Mfg, Co in Kansas City as a sales engineer and rose to be Sales Manager of their equipment division moving to Minneapolis in 1958. A second daughter, Lisa Anne, was born on March 21, 1959. When Penske Inc. acquired the transportation division of Butler, Bill became the Senior Vice President until his retirement in 1982. In retirement, Bill and Pearl moved to Deer Lake at St. Croix Falls, WI and later to Osceola.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents; wife Pearl in 2011; sisters Virginia and Athalyn; great-grandson Ethan Tucker; and great grand-daughter Isabella Tucker. He is survived by daughter Cheryl Gwynne Goodin (Wayne) of Republic, MO; Lisa Anne Johnson (Steve) of Stockholm, WI; 5 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

The Family wishes to thank Bill’s care givers Eve Bjork, Kim Bauer, Kim Iwasco, and Lakeview Hospice for their compassionate and loving care during Bill’s final days.

Funeral services for Bill will take place 11:00 AM Monday, January 13, 2025 at United Methodist Church in Osceola, WI. Visitation one hour prior. Burial will be the following day Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at 9:00 AM at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN with honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorial preferred to Osceola United Methodist Church, PO Box 477, Osceola, WI 54020 or to Lakeview Hospice, 5803 Neal Ave N, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082.

Last Update: Jan 09, 2025 1:02 pm CST