H. William "Bill" Hortsch

H. William "Bill" Hortsch, age 92, passed away peacefully, in his home, on April 6, 2026.  Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he was the only son of Herman and Annice (Alexander) Hortsch.

Shortly after his graduation from Merrill High School, he joined the Navy and was sent to Korea.  He worked as a medic, assigned to the Marine Corp, and assisted his fellow servicemembers out on the front line.  Upon returning home, Bill enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics, his Master of Business Administration, and achieved entrance into Phi Beta Kappa, America's most prestigious academic honor society.  This also is where he met the love of his life, Dorothy Brunell.  They both graduated from UW-Madison in 1959 and were married.  Bill was recruited by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation, and he worked for K-C in ascending positions until he retired 29 years later.  After his retirement from corporate life, Bill decided to become an instructor at the University level--he taught both Statistics and Business Ethics at Marian University and at Cardinal Stritch University.

Bill was a lifelong member of the SPEBSQSA chorus group, the Fox Valleyaires, which is the local Barbershop Harmony Society.  Bill and Dorothy experienced a very active social life, with travels to many European countries and the Carribean.  They also enjoyed belonging to a ballroom dance club, and took many dance lessons throughout the years.  A highlight of Bill and Dorothy's lives together was buying a vacation property in Shawano County on the Tilleda Mill Pond.  They spent countless hours there, entertaining friends and family, and loved to unwind "among the pines".

Bill is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Hortsch Richards; a grandson, Jasper (Howl Hazebrook) Bellerose; a brother-in-law, Robert Jenson; five nieces and two nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife's parents; his wife, Dorothy; his sister Mary Baumann; two sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law.

A memorial service for Bill will be held at 4:00 P.M. on April 14, 2026, at Neenah’s Westgor Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 2:30 P.M. until the hour of service.  Entombment will be at the Shrine of Heaven Mausoleum.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Veterans of Foreign Wars or to the Saint Jude's Children's Hospital.