William L. Dahlke

William L. Dahlke, known to all as Bill, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026, at the age of 84, surrounded by his loving family. Born on May 9, 1941, to William L. and Fern A. (Poppe) Dahlke, Bill attended the UW Marathon County campus for two years after high school and served for six years in the Army National Guard. He met his future wife, Margarete Graefe, while working part-time in his father’s shoe repair business. They married on August 1, 1964, and shared a loving marriage blessed with two children, Connie (Jim) Brown and Curt Dahlke, two grandchildren, Katelyn (Henry) and Bono (Emily), and two great-grandchildren, Chloe and Lewis.

Bill spent his career with the Wausau Area Transit System, where he was known for his compassionate care of customers and his lifelong passion for cars. After retirement, he continued working by delivering car parts and often reminisced about his favorite vehicles from the 1950s. A gifted singer, he shared his musical talents with the Wausau and Stevens Point Barbershop Choruses, a barbershop quartet, the choir at St. Mark’s, and most recently the choir at Rib Mountain Lutheran Church. He also found great joy in taking the family dogs for walks, forming a gentle connection with every dog he met.

Above all, Bill’s deep faith guided his life. He considered service to God his highest priority and lived that commitment through his kind heart and generous spirit. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents and is survived by his wife Margarete, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends who will remember him with great affection.