William "Bill" J Biggs

Biggs, William J. William (Bill) J. Biggs, 93, of Lincoln, passed away on November 22, 2023, surrounded by his family. Bill was born on April 24, 1930, in Lincoln. He was a proud graduate of Lincoln Northeast High School.

Bill met the love of his life, Aletha, at the Lincoln roller rink in 1947. He was swept off his feet by her combination of beauty and brains, and she was wowed by his quick wit and ability to skate backward. Bill and Aletha (nee Schleif) were married on October 29, 1949. They joined Trinity Lutheran Church in 1949 and remained married until Aletha’s death in 2013. During their more than 63 years together, Bill and Aletha raised a wonderful family, engaged in entrepreneurial projects together, including flipping eleven houses, and, through Aletha’s design and maintenance and Bill’s construction created and nurtured a yard around their family home that was recognized as an Audubon nature sanctuary.

Bill was an award-winning salesman in commercial plumbing, heating and air conditioning supplies with companies in Lincoln and Omaha. He began his career with his family’s plumbing supply company in 1947 and continued in the industry until his retirement from Lincoln Winnelson in 1995. His career was interrupted briefly when he and Aletha moved to California in 1952 while he served with the United States Marine Corps before being honorably discharged after two years of active and six years of reserve duty.

After retirement, Bill engaged in a wide range of activities with friends through community groups like the Elks Clubs and Disabled American Veterans, as well as groups he helped lead through his association with Tabitha. Bill lived his last two years among a new group of friends he made at the Knolls Independent Living Center.

Bill is preceded in death by his wife, Aletha; parents, Lillian Smith and John Thomas Clinton Biggs; and daughter, Mary Biggs Pilmore. Survived by son, Matt Biggs, Roca; daughter, Ann (John) Neal, Lincoln; grandchildren, Zachary (Nicole) Biggs, Edmond, OK; Madelyne (Brady) Smith, Durango, CO; and Ryane Neal, Lincoln, NE; great-grandchildren Oliver and Macie Biggs, Edmond, OK; son-in-law Frank Pilmore, Greenfield, MO; and many other family members and friends whom he loved very much.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Saturday, December 9, at 10:00 a.m. with a reception to follow. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, to Disabled American Veterans c/o VA Regional Office, 3800 Village Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska 68516 or https://www.dav.org/.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lincolnfh.com for the Biggs family.