KENT, William "Bill", age 81

Died: Saturday, December 5th, 2015

As per Bill's request, no public services will be held

William "Bill" Kent, age 81, of Eau Claire passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at his home after suffering bravely from COPD and Osteoporosis the past three years.

One of his favorite hymns was:
When we all get to Heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!!
When we all see Jesus -
We will sing and shout the Victory!!!

Bill was born on June 24, 1934 in Eau Claire and was the only child of the late Howard and Bernice (Leibold) Kent. After graduating from Regis High School in 1952, he attended DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL. He married his high school sweetheart, Neenah Jayne Tyler in 1954 and they were gifted with three children and one foster son.

For 34 years, Bill worked at Uniroyal until they closed in 1992. He was an expert bowman winning many awards. He enjoyed many hunting trips to Canada, many U.S. states and at his cabin in Solon Springs, WI. Bill and his Dad, Howie Kent, were instrumental in starting the Eau Claire Archery Club in 1965 and Bill served as its first President - the club is still going strong today.

Bill was a great handyman who could fix anything. Throughout the years he helped out many people plowing gardens, roofing homes, etc. He was a master vegetable gardener and loved to share the harvest of his huge garden with anyone who wanted or needed. Bill canned everything from fruit and vegetables to meat and taught many people how to can and preserve food.

But best of all, Bill had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and had a personal relationship with Jesus. He favorite bible verses were the 23^rd Psalm, John 3:16-17 and Acts 4:12.

Bill was always cordial and friendly to everyone he met - a real gentleman. He was the best husband, father, grandfather, and son. We love you so much, Bill. He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and his little Yorkie, Brother Reuben.

His great story telling ability of sharing all of his life experiences will be missed as well. Especially the story of when in 1980 Bill and his son, Michael (then 13), took a five week bicycle trip from Eau Claire to Canada and back on their Schwinns. They averaged 60 miles per day through five states and two Canadian Provinces; stayed only 4 nights in motels and camped outdoors the rest of the trip. The memories and stories of the people they met and all the wild life they encountered are endless. Each received their "15 Minutes of Fame" with articles and pictures appearing in the Council Bluffs Iowa Tribune, the Eau Claire Leader Telegram, and the Uniroyal Review. Bill's meticulous 2 month planning enabled them to travel light; each bike loaded with gear weighed only 60 pounds. For months upon return, they bragged about traveling 1,500 miles with not even a single flat tire.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Neenah; daughter, Julie (Jeff) Chamberlain; son, Michael (Kristine) Blackcoon; son-in-law, Leif Peterson; grandchildren, Sarah (Tim) Peterson-Johnson, and Jessy Rose Chamberlain, Dakotah (Kaylee), William (Keyandra), and Heather Blackcoon; great grandchildren, Cora and Ivan Johnson, Cameron, Jolee, and Violet Blackcoon; sisters-in-law, Juanita Belland, Joyce Hatfield, Sonja (DeWayne) Kruger, Janet (Byron) Dopkins, Marlyn Tyler and Marge Tyler, many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Peterson in 2007 and his son, Daniel Kent in 2008, both from cancer; brothers-in-law, William Hatfield, Paul Belland, Fred, Charles (Jean), Harvey (Gloria) and Richard Tyler; sister-in-law, Elaine Tyler-Foxx; mother and father-in-law, Lloyd and Maybelle (Card) Tyler; nephew, Alan Belland.