William L. Levezow

William "Bill" Levi Levezow was born May 26, 1932 to Lloyd and Lillian (Ely) Levezow. Gave up the Ghost at home watching John Wayne and James Arness Westerns with step-son/caretaker at his side.

It rained so hard when he was born it nearly washed out the Brickley Bridge below the dam. He was the first of the Levezows to be born in Manawa at the Hospital located at the corner of Oak and Union St. Bill, as he was known to everyone, though nieces, nephews, and many called him Uncle Bill. He lived his entire life in Manawa, most of it in the house located on Inn St. and South Bridge St.

He spent his youth living, working, and playing in Manawa. He had a paper route which he took over from his older brother, Lloyd and often used his horse, Peanut, to deliver papers. He also had a popcorn stand in the alley way by Paters restaurant, which he acquired from Vic Baldwin. He also worked for his father at Lloyd's Midtown Bar and on the farms that they owned north of Manawa. When he wasn't working, he could be found swimming, diving off the powerhouse roof by the dam. He attended Little Wolf schools in Manawa, playing basketball and football. He was on championship teams in both sports. He was a life-long member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church where he was baptized, served mass, took his first communion and confirmed. His Catholic faith was important to him until his death.

He loved to pull pranks and joke. He often told the story about jumping out of the classroom window only to be caught by the principal. After school he enlisted in the United States Navy during the Korean War with his friend John Paters. He served proudly aboard a repair ship in the engine room. After his time in the Navy, he returned to Manawa helping tend bar and working on his father's farms. Later he tended bar at Cedar Spring and as a plumber's apprentice and furnace repair man for Otto Hodel Pluming and Hardware Store. When his father sold the Tavern in 1967 Bill purchased the Farms where he farmed with his brothers and nieces and nephews. He sold the farms in 1976 and purchased Sturm and Jensen. First, he bought out George Swede Jensen share, and then later buying Sturms share. He started the laundry mat downtown in the old Meat Market. He went on to later purchase Ed Ferg Fergas Propane business which he later expanded to include Peshtigo Propane. Bill liked to buy and sell property, houses and land. He enjoyed time at his cottage and land he purchased from his father on Franks Lane on the Wolf River north of Hortonville.

He married Jean Ann (Baldwin) in 1986 and they purchased and lived on the mill pond next door to his current residence he purchased in 2000. Bill and Jean loved to fish and canoe all over the United States and logged many miles in their RV's. They began to winter in Laughlin, Nevada, Apache Jet, Arizona and Mesa, Arizona. They were active and loved to entertain guests, both in Wisconsin and Arizona, until Jean's death in 2014. Bill retired at age 72 and later sold his business in 2006. Bill served as building inspector then as Mayor where he began the New City Hall building project and updating sidewalks. He spent his later years in the house he and Jean purchased in 2000 where he passed away peacefully with a John Wayne James Arness movie on. He shared a birthday with them. He loved westerns and the country lifestyle, especially horses. He was a member of Knights of Columbus, Lions Club, VFW American Legion. He liked to invest in the stock market, tracking his choices, the Price is Right, weekday Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy weeknights, Westerns the rest of the time or any show with horses or farming. Clint Eastwood, Joel McCrae, Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan as cowboys he would be watching.

Bill is survived by his son: John Levezow - BellaVista, Arkansas; stepchildren: Patricia (Zellmer) Ferg Gasque Reser, Tom Zellmer - Minneapolis, Minnesota, Theresa Zellmer - Jackson, Wyoming, Julie (John) Winter - Two Rivers, Wisconsin, James (Kirsten) Zellmer -  Jefferson, Wisconsin, Robert Zellmer - Nashville, Michigan, Mark Zellmer - Manawa, Wisconsin; Nieces: Sue (Ed) Levezow - Manawa, Wisconsin, Barbara Levezow - Apache Jet, Arizona, Mary Levezow - South Bend, Oregon; nephews: Mike (Sandy) Levezow - New London, Wisconsin, Jim Levezow - West Bend, Oregon, Paul Levezow - Hortonville, Wisconsin, Brian (June) Levezow - Manawa, Wisconsin, Kevin (Kristy) Levezow - Manawa, Wisconsin; Wally (Cathy) Surma - Manawa, Wisconsin and Cindy (Mark) Levezow - Manawa, Wisconsin; grandchildren: Kathy (Nick) Skibbs - Naples, Florida, Brad Sr. (Sazette) Ferg - Plover, Wisconsin, Rob (Sheila) Ferg, Sarah (Wes) Kinney, Rachel (Meng) Vega, Matthew Gasque Reser - Stevens Point, Wisconsin; Becky (Hunter) Rychek - Abrams, Wisconsin, Daniel Zellmer - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvannia, Nicole (PJ) Zellmer - Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Anne Zellmer - Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Braydon, Paige, Thea and Ava Zellmer, Tabatha Winter, Jesse Zellmer, Sarah Rice; great-grandchildren: Betsy, Joshua, Lydia, Cassie, Logan, Avery, Madison, Orion, Landon, Alexis, Olivia, Octavia, Peyton, Roman, Blessa, Luke; numerous great nieces and nephews and several great-great grandchildren.

Bill was preceeded in death by his parents: Llyod and Lillian (Ely) Levezow; his wife: Jean Ann (Baldwin); stepsons: Michael Daniel and Timothy Zellmer; sisters: Karen and Yvonnie Levezow; brothers: Lloyd and Ralph Levezow; sisters-in-law: Margaret (Schillig) Levezow and Maridith (Noble) Levezow; nephew: Mark Levezow; nieces: Cathy Levezow, Ferg Surma.

Bill loved to eat lunch every day at New London Family Diner. Occasionally, to Crystal Café for pie and French Onion soup. He passed time by playing solitaire, cribbage, sheepshead, pool, or feeding the birds and squirrels.

The Funeral Mass for Bill will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manawa with Fr. Matthew Rappl officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. A visitation for Bill will be held at the Dahlke Life Celebration Center of Manawa from 4:00 - 7:00 pm and on Friday at the church from 9:30 - 10:45 am.

We especially wish to thank PreMedical Hospice Staff. WOW, what an awesome crew from nurses to CNA, Morgan, Chaplain, Brian and our social worker, Joelle. We also wish to thank the Manawa Fire Department and rescue squad.