Bill Ross

William John Ross, known to all as Bill, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026, at Park View Home in Woodville, Wisconsin, at the age of 72. Born on January 19, 1954, in New Richmond, Wisconsin, to James and Lucy “Lorraine” Ross, he graduated from Glenwood City High School in 1972.

Bill devoted many years to the trucking and machining industries. In his younger days he hauled milk for Rusty Ferguson and The Winegars in Clear Lake and later hauled freight for Erickson’s Grocery in River Falls, proudly driving a red, white, and blue cab-over semi. He also drove for Convenience Transport “Kwik Trip” and All Ways Transport in Bloomer. Between trucking runs, he enjoyed a memorable time as a bartender at Goossens’ Roost in Emerald, where he formed many lasting friendships. In 1990 he graduated from WITC New Richmond with a Machinist degree and worked at Doboy in New Richmond, OEM in Woodville, and finished his career at Wisconsin Metal Fab in Chippewa Falls in 2016. He took pride in fabricating his own intricate tools and built a special kayak wagon to pull behind a pedal bike for his daughter Marissa.

An avid motorcycle enthusiast, Bill loved riding his Harley-Davidson and traveling the open roads of the western United States with his close friends. He created a beautiful backyard oasis at his home in Menomonie, where he enjoyed watching and feeding squirrels and deer, exploring the creek with his children and grandchildren, and tending iris, lily, and other flower gardens along with a vegetable plot and horseradish plant. He shared many happy hours canning with his best friend Tiny, was a skilled cook known for his exceptional chocolate chip cookies, and was an enthusiastic collector of model trains. His basement featured an elaborate track layout filled with engines and cars from train shows, complete with accessories he crafted himself, which he delighted in showing to family and friends.

Bill is survived by his children Brandi (David) Caress, Bridget (Nick) Curvello, Bill Ross, Blake Ross, and Marissa (Hope) Savaria; grandchildren Brooklyn, Madison and Harper Caress, Allison, Austin, Aubrey and Alexys Curvello, Alexander, Gabriella and Finnegan Ross, Lawrence “Renny” and Theodore “Jory” Savaria; great-granddaughter Emberlee Curvello; special family friend Jasmine Johnson; siblings Patrick Crimmings (Thomas Wilson), Thomas (MaryAnn) Ross, Robert (Susan) Ross, Jean Rose, Joan Ross, Judith (John) Ganong, James (Terri) Ross, and Lori Cress; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents James and Lucy “Lorraine” Ross and brothers-in-law Robert Rose and Dennis Cress.