William "Bill" Arthur Peck

William Arthur Peck, “Bill,” age 76 of Curtis, Michigan, and formerly of Warren, died Friday, July 10, 2020 at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He was born August 27, 1943 in Gladwin, Michigan, son of the late Charles William and the late Iva Belle (nee: Anderson) Peck.

Growing up in St. Clair Shores, Bill was a proud graduate of South Lake High School’s “Class of ’63.” He would follow his post-high school path until one fateful day in 1967 when he received his invitation from Uncle Sam to come join the armed forces in their efforts during the Vietnam War. As a soldier in the U.S. Army, Bill served from May 15, 1967 thru May 14, 1969 and ultimately attained the rank of Specialist 4. As part of the Quartermaster’s Corps, Bill’s primary duty assignment was that of stock controller and accounting specialist. He played an integral role in helping to keep his fellow soldiers well-equipped for their tasks ahead. So it is, with thanks and praise from a grateful nation, that we honor Bill’s service to our country during a very difficult time in America’s history. For answering his call with bravery and valor, we extend our posthumous gratitude for the sacrifices made and his willingness to stand in harm’s way when America came calling. He wore the uniform, served his time, and deserves the highest praise that can be afforded Army Specialist, William Arthur Peck.

Following his return from military service, Bill would eventually find himself knocking on the door at the Ford Motor Company where his hopes were to become a part of the automotive industry and help create some of the many cars that would populate the roads of America. He got the job and was placed on the line as an assembler, a career that spanned over 30 years for which he was extremely proud. He worked hard, gave his all, until finally accepting his well-deserved retirement. He shared his good-byes and headed off into a new chapter in life with a wide open world of a million things to do,…and all the time to do them.

So he may have been retired, but there was no layin’ around eating chips and drinking beer for the BillMeister,…no siree! This dude had people to do and things to see, and his daily agendas were like packing a two pound sausage into a one pound skin. One of his nicknames was “Wild Bill,”…and that was definitely for a reason. Possessing an endless supply of energy and a genuine sense of adventure, Bill was always reinventing himself. Just when you thought you had him figured out, he was pulling the carpet out from under you again. He never did anything half-way, in fact,…to the “nth” degree pretty much defines most everything Bill did. To many he may have been perceived as a “doer”…a “go-getter”…perhaps a tad O.C.D.,…but in every sense of the word, Wild Bill was truly a Legend. That might seem a bit lofty and overblown, but just imagine. When many retirees are in the garage building a new workbench, Bill set out to build a boat,…and ended up constructing a 30 foot sailing craft with all the bells & whistles, then hopped aboard and sailed that sucker across the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Portugal, to the Azore Islands. Though it wasn’t a one-man job,  it was certainly spearheaded by the dynamo himself. With the assistance of an ol’ school chum, Chet and his son, Al, the three boatsmen headed east in their new vessel that they christened, “Maude,”…and spent the next 20 days experiencing the ride of their lives. Now that is what you call “legendary!”

Not sold yet? Let’s talk about one of his favorite pastimes, fishing. Now, with most retirees, it’s a matter of loading up your pole and tackle box and heading to a favorite fishing hole, or perhaps to a pier or boardwalk, or maybe out on the boat for a little river trolling. Alas, not for Bill. When it came to deciding the perfect spot to cast his line out, Wild Bill hopped aboard an ultra-light airplane and flew over the area where he planned to fish, looking for what might appear the ideal location. Once espied, he would land the craft then get in his vehicle and drive through the woodland terrain until he arrived at the spot as seen from above. Folks,…that’s not merely fishing, that’s legendary fishing.

Still not sold? Telling the story of Wild Bill would be terribly remiss without mentioning “Deer Camp.” Yes, like many Michigander’s, Wild Bill was known for his love of hunting, especially when it meant heading to Deer Camp to join his buddies for their annual shootfest and antics around the campfire. Somewhere over the years and along the way, the boys had stumbled across an old, iron bathtub of which they decided to the camp. Its use, you ask? Well, they came up with the idea of building a fire under the tub, filling it with water, then presenting the challenge to the first one to get a deer,…they could be the first one to take a bath in the cleeeean water. The next to get a deer, the next one to get a bath,…and so on, and so on. If you were near the bottom of the heap, taking a bath had some serious issues to swallow,…but it certainly made for the perfect competition amongst friends. How could a story about a bathtub be legendary, you ask? Just talk to the guy who was the first one in the tub!

Just an aside when it came to Wild Bill’s hunting excursions. You see, the ingenuity and improvisations that enveloped the person in Bill were also accompanied by his laxness when it came to heeding the rules established by the DNR. Not possessing a broad sense of humor, the agents were on to Bill’s M.O., and his impending doom was soon to be unearthed. We’re not talking about underworld, spy novel stuff,…but we are talking about the exchanging of money, from his pocket to theirs,…and so the joke goes that Bill truly “supported” the DNR.

There are stories about Bill’s life that could fill a book the size of War and Peace,…and perhaps one day soon we’ll all read that tome. But for now, the beautiful part of knowing Bill is being able to reflect back on the plethora of experiences, feelings, and memories that inspired a smile, a hearty laugh, or perhaps a moment of awe as he scaled another mountain. Whatever he was up to, he was happy (sometimes eager) to include you in on the ride. But there was one thing for certain,…there was no moss growing under Wild Bill’s feet. For as determined a character as he had, he was also a kind-hearted soul that was willing to help in any way possible. For as demanding as he could sometimes be, he was also the kind of guy who would give you his all. Bill embodied a passion for life that was both infectious & contagious,…and that’s just the way he wanted it. People that achieve the heights and experiences as Bill did rarely do it for notoriety or selfish gain. Rather, they seek to influence, inspire and teach others along the way,…and show, by example, that impossible doesn’t exist to those who try. Success isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. And for those who shared Bill’s journey this side of Heaven, he’s now waiting on the other side for that “Great Gettin’ Up Morning” when we’ll all be reunited once again.

A loving father, grandfather and brother, known more affectionately to ALL as “Uncle Bill,”…was, indeed, a legendary man who taught a million lessons on how to live large, love often, and laugh much. Those campfire breakfasts will never be the same,…especially when you need someone like Bill to roust out of bed at 3 in the morning to whip up a mess of pancakes in a frying pan that looks like it belongs to Uncle Buck! Bill lived by a motto,…though not original, but borrowed by Charles Schultz,…”You only die once, so live every day!”

Can you envision Bill up in Heaven right now? He’s probably got Noah cornered, sharing notes about building boats and pulling on his ear to embark on something grand again. Hang on Noah,…you’re in for the ride of your life!

Everybody scream at the top of your lungs,…U N C L E   B I L L !!! He will be missed immensely and loved eternally. I’d normally end with “rest in peace,”…but y’all know that ain’t gonna happen. (lol) He’s up there wowwin’ & amazin’ the crowd, even as we speak. You Go, Uncle Bill!  

Bill was the beloved father of Jennifer (John) Ivinson and Lauren (Rob) Tori. Loving grandfather of Jonathan, Josie, Scott, Anthony, Emily, and Steven. Brother of Sharon (Ed) Deburghgraeve, Marvin (Wendy) Peck, Peggy (John) Vanderhagen, and Larry Calus.

Visitation for Bill will be held Tuesday, July 14th from 5-9 pm at the D.S. Temrowski & Sons Funeral Home, 30009 Hoover Road at Common (12 ½ Mile Rd) in Warren, Michigan.

Memorial donations are welcomed to the Kids for Hunting Foundation, 31258 600th Street, Millville, MN 55957  (www.kidshuntingfoundation.com)

                                   ***FACE MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE VISITATION***

Please share memories of Bill at his guest book below.