William "Bill" Donald Grindeland

Service Details

A private memorial service will be held on a later date.

Memorial Suggestions

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Parkinson’s Foundation or a charity of your choice.

William Donald Grindeland was born April 25, 1937, near Lisbon, North Dakota. He was the eldest son of William M. and Inga (Née: Casperson) Grindeland.  He was born into eternal life on June 14, 2018, at the Oak Ridge Care Center, Union Grove, WI.

Bill grew up in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and was a graduate of Grand Forks Central High School.  He attended the University of North Dakota and graduated with a degree in geography and library science.  He obtained advanced degrees in library and information science and administration from the University of Minnesota and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  In 1957, he began his career in the Racine Unified School District as a librarian and administrator.  During his career, he established the district’s instructional materials center, established libraries in many of the district schools, and served as an assistant to the Deputy Superintendent of Schools and the Instructional Assistant Superintendent. He was recognized by the Wisconsin Library Association as Librarian of the Year and the Instructional Materials Center was recognized as Library of the Year. He retired in 1994.  Bill also was a visiting professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Library and Information Science.

Bill was a Phi Beta Kappa member and a Fulbright Scholar.  He was a member of the Wisconsin Library Association and held various offices in that organization. He served on the Board of the Racine Public Library and was a Kiawanis and NAACP member as well as a member of several other local organizations. He was a member of the Faithbridge Church, formally the Franksville United Methodist Church.

Bill’s lifetime was filled with activities and adventure. As a young man, he worked for the U.S Government as a U.S. Costal geodetic service surveyor charting the Atlantic Ocean near Rhode Island. He also worked as a government surveyor in the Midwest states. He had lifelong love for horses, especially Arabians, and won the Wisconsin Maiden Mare honor.  He collected antique cars and attended many local car shows. He was a bridge card player and played with the same group since coming to Racine.  He enjoyed his Franksville farm when he raised cattle and horses.  He liked fishing, hunting, reading, collecting antiques and travel throughout the United States and several foreign countries.  He spent many enjoyable vacations at his northern Wisconsin farm where he attended tractor pulls which he enjoyed thoroughly.  Bill was proud of his Norwegian heritage and his family history.  Most of all, he enjoyed time spent with family and friends.

Bill is survived by his beloved companion, Lora Lei Hildebrandt of Franksville; four children, Dawne (Tom Kuiper) Grindeland of Franksville, Bruce (Jill) Grindeland of Waterford, Brenda (David) Creuziger of Sturtevant, William M. Grindeland of Murfreesboro, TN; seven grandchildren, Kyle (Holly) Creuziger, Steven (Wendy) Grindeland, Kelly (Ben) Smith, Alex Grindeland, Ashley (David) Martyn, Ericka (Matt) Kuhns, Jenna Stengert; ten great grandchildren; brother, David (Sherry) Grindeland; uncle, Norman Grindeland; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ardith Jean Grindeland; brother, Richard; and sister, Dawne Marie.

The family would like to extend special thanks to the care given from Home Instead, the staff at Oak Ridge Care Center, and Season’s Hospice for the kind and compassionate care given to Bill over the past few years.