Bill will be missed by the basketball community and all the people that he came in contact with.

 Posted by Buck Harvey - Friend September 21, 2015

Sue and Family: Our hearts are full of sorrow for you for the loss of your dad, grandpa, brother, friend. We send our prayers and love. Sam and Julie Countess

 Posted by Countess - Austin, TX - Daughter Sue's Sister-in-Law September 22, 2015

I am very saddened to hear of Coach Springer's passing. I remember him fondly as my Laker coach from the mid-70's. His mission was to teach us and make us better young men, which he did...with his own unequaled brand of kindness and motivation. Prayers to the extended Springer and Dongvillo families. 

 Posted by Phil Biggs - Grand Rapids, MI - Friend September 22, 2015

Bill was a true friend and teammate. We were friends since third grade. I feel a great loss. My heart goes out to the family for your loss.

 Posted by Glen Gerard - Lake Leelanau, MI - Friend and teammate September 22, 2015

I had Mr. Springer for math class at Westwood Middle in 7th grade. By far the best math teacher I had in my schooling journey. He was also the only teacher at Westwood that ever gave me lines to write (for a crude joke about two absent classmates). My sincere condolences for his family during this difficult time. 

 Posted by Mark Brewer - West Allis, WI - Student,Westwood Middle,1987-89 September 22, 2015

My sincere condolences to Bill's family and friends. We were classmates and friends dating back to Central elementary school through high school. I believe the last time I saw Bill might have been at one of the reunions when a few of us met at Central for a tour of the building. We shared memories and listened to a lot of "voices" echoing from the past. I hope Bill's passing was a peaceful one. He was a very nice man!

 Posted by Sherry McKian Coffey - San Diego, CA - Friend and classmae September 22, 2015

My condolences to the Springer family on Bill's passing. I used to walk Bill and Damon to Elmwood Grade School when we all lived on Madison Street back in the 1940's. I have not seen Bill for many many years but you don 't forget childhood friends like Bill and Damon Springer.

 Posted by J. David Lather - Traverse City, MI - Friend September 23, 2015

To Damon and Family, So sorry for the loss of Bill. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Sincerely, Jo Anne Seman (I taught with Damon at Gardner)

 Posted by Jo Anne Seman - East Lansing, MI - Friend of Damon Springer September 23, 2015

Although we mostly competed against each other as coaches for rival schools (FHC/FHN), I looked forward to my pre-game talk with Coach Springer EVERY time we played FHN. In the coaching community, Coach was a mentor to many. Over the years, his view on the impact we can make as coaches on the lives of our players has helped shape my own life and philosophy as a coach. I will greatly miss my talks with Coach Springer and the FHN vs. FHC games will never be the same for me. I can only imagine how many lives he has positively impacted over the 50 years he has spent investing in young people. Thank you Coach for leading by example and being an irreplaceable member of the coaching community. 

 Posted by Austin Riebel - Caledonia, MI - Coach September 24, 2015

Mr. Springer taught me the meaning of "silence is golden" as my 7th grade math teacher at Iroquois Middle School...

 Posted by M. Armstrong - Grand Rapids, MI - student September 24, 2015

To the family and friends of Bill Springer, My deepest condolences for your loss. I loved Bill's positive attitude and energy. It is a tragedy when the things we can fix are overcome by those that we cannot in medicine. I will miss him. Dr. Roberts, West Michigan Orthopaedics

 Posted by Karl Roberts - Grand Rapids, MI - professional relationship September 25, 2015

I enjoyed having Coach Springer at GVSU basketball during the 80's & 90's. But, I really valued his friendship after my playing years, working camps with him.

 Posted by Joe Schuitema - Grant, MI - Coach & Friend September 25, 2015

Any classroom with Bill in it was lively. I enjoyed this liveliness from third grade through high school. I've always been glad to have him as a friend. Rest in Peace, Bill. Sympathy to his family.

 Posted by Helen Wilson Vogel - TraverseCity, MI - friend September 25, 2015

I can't tell you how empty I am learning of Coaches passing. Coach always had a hand out welcoming me whenever we saw eachother. I enjoyed his "lessons" while at GVSU and they will never be forgotten. The whole Springer family accepted me as one of there own and alway's asked how I was doing and how was the family. He will never be forgotten and to me, he wasn't just a coach he was a mentor. I will treasure his friendship.

 Posted by Russ Lee - Lansing, MI - Friend/student October 07, 2015

OBITUARY

William "Bill" Springer

29 May, 1939 – 19 September, 2015

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