William "Bill" John Schlegel Jr.

Bill Schlegel was born in Columbia, Illinois, to parents William, Sr. and Louise, the oldest of five brothers and one sister. The family moved to Salem, Missouri, in 1948; however, Bill stayed in Columbia with his aunt and uncle to be able to graduate from Dupo High School. After high school at age 17 Bill joined the United States Air Force.

In 1953 Bill married Hazel Grace Schmidt in Wisconsin. The Air Force assigned the newlyweds to New Hampshire and then Massachusetts where their first child, David, was born. Additional children Laura, Lisa and Randy were born in Dover, Delaware. The family moved to Midwest City, Oklahoma in 1967. Bill retired from the USAF in 1969.

Bill’s wife Hazel died in 1972 and he remarried in 1973 to Reatha Ruth Greene Nixon. She had three children, Alfred, Lori and James, from a previous marriage.

Bill and Reatha enjoyed square dancing and was president of the Central District Square Dance Association in 2004. He was also part of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame Exhibition Group traveling and performing throughout the United States. Bill was president of the Trailblazers Square Dance Club from 1996 to 1997.

Bill stayed active in square dancing with both the Silver Spurs and Fun Timers square dance clubs. He was known for his dry sense of humor. Bill was a deacon with the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Richard, Robert and Donald; and his wives Hazel and Reatha. He is survived by his sister, Geraldine Sturdivant; brother, Frank; his children, David and wife Lou, Laura, Lisa and Randy; stepchildren, Alfred and wife Anna, Lori and husband Steve, and James and wife Kaylene; seventeen grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Service for Bill will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 6, 2021 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 700 N. Air Depot Blvd., Midwest City, OK 73110.

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