John Joseph Wille

John Joseph Wille was born in Chase, Kansas on January 1, 1934, to Joe and Margaret Wille. He moved to Pasadena, Texas in 1955. He joined the Navy in 1955 when he got his draft notice and met Susie Lee while stationed in Jacksonville, Florida. He served in the Navy as active duty until 1957 when he moved to Reserves duty. He married Susie Jane Lee on November 29, 1957, and moved to Pasadena, Texas to start their family.

John worked at Houston Lighting and Power from circa 1958 to 1962, which included working through waist-deep water during Hurricane Carla in 1961 to restore power to the Houston area. During one of those many long days while working in waist-deep water, there was a back-feed of power that might have killed him if his wife Susan had not just brought him a pair of dry gloves. This incident made him realize that this job was too dangerous for a man with a young family. So, in 1962 he left HL&P to join Southwestern Bell. John was a hard worker and worked hundreds of hours of overtime at Southwestern Bell to be a great provider for his family. He was especially proud of all the hours he worked in the 1960’s to help build Johnson Space Center.

John was an avid sports fan and passed along this love to his three sons, who all played sports. He enjoyed watching his son’s games, rarely if ever missing a game. He also coached his youngest son’s baseball teams. John also loved watching all the Houston Sports Team on TV and in person.

John was a great husband and father, always protecting his family and creating a strong family bond that still resides in his sons today. His weekends frequently included some type of grilling and/or smoking meats to provide great family meals that further strengthened the family bond. He retired from Southwestern Bell in 1988. In 1994, John and Susan drew up plans to their new retirement home and had their house built in the brand-new Pasadena Baywood Oaks subdivision in 1995.

In retirement, John was blessed with 2 grandchildren. Nobody could have ever been a happier grandfather. He loved attending all their activities and all the grandparent events at their schools while often having them spend the night. John was also active in the community during retirement serving as Block Captain and on the Architectural Review Board in the Baywood Oaks subdivision. He was involved in the Pasadena Network Neighborhood Program and was able to secure several matching grants from the city for neighborhood improvements.

John was a great handyman and enjoyed helping his sons improve their houses and their vehicles, always willing to help with any home or car project. He enjoyed traveling, taking frequent trips with family and friends. He also enjoyed spending time with family and having family over for dinners, which occurred almost every weekend.

John is preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Susan Wille, parents, Joe and Margaret Wille, his brothers Robert “Bob” Wille, Kenneth Wille, and Raymond “Curtis” Wille.

He is survived by his son, Michael Wille and wife Dalael of LaPorte, Texas, son, Terry Wille of Pasadena, Texas, son Richard Wille of Pasadena, Texas, granddaughter Kristen Wille of Houston, Texas, and grandson Steven Wille of Pasadena, Texas.