William James "Bill" FitzGerald, Sr., 92, of Waterford, Michigan, passed away on October 16, 2021, surrounded by all his family at Lourdes Nursing Home.  Born on September 20, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan, he was predeceased by his wife Ann Marie, father Joseph, Sr., mother H. Grace, brother Joseph, Jr., and sisters Ann, Helen, and Rosemary.

Bill graduated from St. Mary's of Redford High School in Detroit, Michigan, then joined the Army, where he served in Germany at the time of the Korean conflict.  Upon returning from overseas he continued his education at the University of Detroit, where he met and married the love of his life, Ann Marie Ternes.  After graduation Bill became a purchasing agent for Chevrolet, and later an accomplished manufacturing sales representative for various companies.  He was a long-time member of St. Mary's of Redford and Our Lady of the Lakes in Waterford, where he lectured and ushered, and was active participant in the lives of his children, coaching their softball teams, participating in the Boy Scout troop, and taking the family camping throughout the country.  Despite being afflicted with polio and scarlet fever as a child, Bill was a life-long athlete, becoming a high school football player and later an avid bowler, golfer, softball player, and winner of the Lefty's Cup Golf Challenge every year from 1999 to 2017, an accomplishment that will never be equaled.  In retirement he traveled throughout the world with Ann and his many friends, including the Pot Luck Group, with whom the two had met with periodically for over six decades.  Bill had a big heart, volunteering for and supporting several organizations including Angel's Place in West Bloomfield.  After Ann's passing, Bill reconnected with Pat Donaldson, a schoolmate from his high school days, and they became constant companions.

Bill is survived by his sisters Joan and Mary; his four children, William Jr. (Linda), Thomas (Colleen), Margaret (Brian), and Jerome (Tina); his grandchildren Heather, Jennifer, Melissa, Rebecca, Ashley, Daniel, Kiera, Casey, Henry, Ethan, Jonah, and Annie; and great-grandchildren Graham, Carter, Stephen, Eleanor and Del.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Angel's Place via www.angelsplace.com.

Angel's Place
29299 Franklin Road, Southfield MI 48034
Web: https://www.angelsplace.com/