WILLIAM DICKENS

William A. “Bill” Dickens Sr., of Neenah, Wisconsin, passed away on Wednesday, September 14, 2016, after being called home by his Lord and friend, Jesus Christ, while surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Bill was born on April 25, 1932, in Milwaukee, as the youngest son of the late Harold and Edith (Small) Dickens.  Bill graduated from Milwaukee Country Day School (University School of Milwaukee) in 1950, and then from Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, in 1954, with a B.A. in chemistry. He earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from MIT in 1956, and a masters of business administration from the University of Chicago in 1979.

In 1956, Bill began a 31-year career at Kimberly-Clark Corporation as a chemical engineer in Neenah.  In the mid-1970's, while serving as Vice President of KC's Service Products Division, Bill was instrumental in the development of non-woven fabrics.  In 1979, he became Vice President of Research and Development in KC's Consumer Products Division.  In 1983, Bill moved to Conway, Arkansas, to serve as the manager of KC's Conway Mills.  Bill retired from KC in 1987 as the head of Corporate Science and Technology at the company's facilities in Roswell, Georgia.

Bill was a dedicated member of St. Thomas Church in Menasha.  There he acted at various times as vestry member, treasurer, senior warden, and chalice bearer.  He and Jackie loved hosting Bible studies and small groups at their home in Neenah for more than 25 years.  In addition, he enjoyed serving as President of the Neenah Public Library Board, and as a pack leader while his sons were in Cub Scouts.

Bill was the quintessential outdoorsman.  Having grown up hunting ducks with his father and brother at the family island on Fox Lake, Wisconsin, Bill went on to share this passion with his sons, both at Fox Lake and later at the Black Slough Hunting Club in Shiocton.  His summers were filled with golf at North Shore Golf Club and canoeing adventures with family and friends. He adored August canoe trips in Quetico Provincial Park, Ontario, and down Ontario rivers.  He was a proud Green Bay Packers fan and shareholder.

Bill deeply treasured his relationships with his wife, his sons, and their families.  Bill married Jacklyn Mae Martiny on September 12th, 1959, at the First Presbyterian Church in Neenah.  Survivors include his Jackie; four sons: William (Elizabeth Tornes) Dickens, Jr., Andrew (Ruth) Dickens, Daniel (Elizabeth) Dickens, Mark (Jennie) Dickens; ten grandchildren: Christopher, Luke, Hannah, Benjamin, Rachael, Ellie, Mary, Nathan, Micah and Matthew; and his sister, Dorothy Mestier, of Mequon, WI.  

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, John and Susan Dickens, and a brother-in-law, A. Joseph Mestier.

The family wishes to give special thanks to Jon, Louise, and Al, Bill's care partners from Home Instead, and to the special and caring staff at Brewster Village in Appleton.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at St. Thomas Church, 226 Washington St., Menasha, with Fr. Ralph Osborne officiating.  A visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 P.M. until the commencement of the service.  In lieu of gifts of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Bill's memory to St. Thomas Church, the Neenah Public Library, or the charity of the contributor's choice.