William "Bill" Read

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Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

William “Bill” Read, 96, of Tony, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family, on Monday, October 26, 2026.

Bill was born on July 21, 1930, in the Town of Grant, Rusk County, to Earl and Lucille (Hansen) Read. He was born and raised in the area and called it home for most of his life.

Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. He remained a dedicated member of the American Legion for 61 years. Bill married Delores, and together they made their home in the area and raised their family. He worked for the Soo Line Railroad and also farmed.

Bill loved music and dancing, and he never missed a good western, especially Gunsmoke. He enjoyed tinkering in his putter shop and tending his garden. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.

Bill is survived by his sons, Randy (Rose) Read of Conrath, Brian (Wanda) Read of Sheldon, Kerry Read and Jane Nitek of Conrath, and Scott (Shelly) Read of Tony; his daughters, Cindy Read of Ladysmith and Lorie (Shawn) Lowery of Tucson, Arizona; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and his sister, Betty Balz of Ladysmith.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Delores Read, in 1991; his second wife, Beulah (Nichols) Read in 2020; an infant son, Baby Boy Read; and his brothers, Leroy and Edwin Read.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held in the spring of 2027, with the date and location to be announced. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Ladysmith.

A complete obituary will also be published in the Ladysmith News.