William (Bill) H. Pugh III, 73, died Friday, December 14, 2018, at The Woods of Caledonia. Born on July 13, 1945, in Racine, he was the son of the late William H. Jr. and Betty (Nee: Hall) Pugh.
Bill was the son of the third generation of Pugh Wood and Coal, which was founded in 1847 in Racine. He was very passionate about nature and being active outside – he enjoyed kayaking and hunting white-tail deer and wild turkeys. Bill was an exceptional marksman. His pride and joy was a farm in southwestern Wisconsin that he converted to a tree farm and wildlife paradise.
Bill attended Northwestern Military Academy and graduated from William Horlick High School. After graduating, he went on to earn a degree in Petroleum Marketing from the University of Tulsa. His entire professional career was spent at Pugh Oil and Pugh Coal Companies and served as president of those companies for 25 years. Passionate about philanthropy, he supported many local charities, sporting groups, schools, and nature preservation groups through yearly donations. Bill was also an athlete, specializing in running, racquetball and squash, and lifting weights.
He is survived by his wife, Helen (Nee: Horlick); daughter, Stephanie (Stephen) Hunter; brother, Richard (Lisa) Pugh; sister, Charlotte Crist; six grandchildren; London, Camden, Scarlett, Violet, Mason, and Vixy. In addition to his parents he was also preceded in death by his first wife, Judith Logsdon; son, Michael Pugh; and brother-in-law, Paul Crist.
The memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2018, at 11 a.m. at Maresh Meredith & Acklam Funeral Home. Friends and relatives can meet with the family at 9:30 a.m. Gifts of remembrance may be sent to HALO.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Hospice Alliance and the entire staff at The Woods of Caledonia for their loving and compassionate care.