Barbola Funeral Chapel

William Joseph “Bill” Buchholz

William Joseph “Bill” Buchholz, age 88, of Longwood, FL, formerly of Berlin, WI, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022, in Longwood, FL.

He was born January 19, 1934, in Berlin, WI, the son of William E. and Lola Weix Buchholz. Bill, or Buz as he was known to his friends and family, lived many places in his life, but he always called Berlin home. He was baptized and confirmed at Berlin Methodist Church. He attended kindergarten through 8th grade at Washington School and subsequently attended and graduated from Berlin High School in 1952. He was very active in sports, band, and student council. He started dating his future wife, Mary Ellen Brown, after his junior year of high school. They graduated together in 1952 and were married at Grace Lutheran Church in Berlin on September 15, 1956. They were happily married 66 years to the day.

Bill spent two years in the U.S. Army stationed in Germany. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1959 with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business and then began a long career in the food industry with Pillsbury and General Foods. After retiring, he returned to Wisconsin to work with his friend, Dr. N.R. Gandhi, at Jeneil Biotech in Saukville, WI. He and his wife were Port Washington, WI, residents for over 20 years.

Bill was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen; three sons, Daniel (Joan), Thomas (Mara) and John (Petra); and his grandchildren, Alex (Eleanor), Erin, Kelli, and Joshua Buchholz. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Shirley Scheer and Lois Jeanne Henslin. Bill left the world a better place. He was always actively involved in his community and had a pragmatic, optimistic, and can-do attitude. He instilled these important virtues in his family and those around him.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Saturday, October 1, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., at Barbola Funeral Chapel in Berlin. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m., at Barbola Funeral Chapel, Rev. Rebekah Tarras officiating. Inurnment will be in Green Lake Center Cemetery with a reception to follow at Center House. Memorials may be directed to Village on the Green in Longwood, Florida, where a memorial bench will be placed in Bill’s name. Anyone wishing to send a sympathy card to the family or a memorial gift (made out to Village on the Green) mail to William Buchholz, c/o Barbola Funeral Chapel, PO Box 201, Berlin, WI 54923.