Bill was born in Spooner, Wisconsin on November 24, 1921, the son of Herman and Ida Cleveland Ganske. Bill was a dedicated athlete. He graduated from Spooner High School where he excelled in basketball, football, track and golf. Bill attended Lacrosse State College where he continued to play competitive basketball before enlisting in the Navy to serve his country during World War II in 1942. Bill served 4 years as an Aviation Radar-Radioman Second Class. He spent 39 months of sea duty flying TB Bombers prior to being stationed at Brunswick Naval Air Station. While serving in Brunswick, Bill met and married his loving and devoted wife, Mary, in 1944. After discharge from the Navy in 1945 the couple chose to remain in Cundy’s Harbor, Maine.
Bill was a commercial fisherman for 45 years. He was an outdoorsman and golfer. He enjoyed years of hunting and fishing with his wife at their camp on Lake Moxie, salmon fishing in Quebec, trap shooting, golf and winters at their home in Arizona. While in Arizona Bill competed in competitive trap shooting and won first in his class in the 1984 Phoenix Spring Grand America Open. Bill was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing golf in both Maine and Arizona. During his golfing career he accomplished the rarely achieved by shooting his age 3 times and getting 3 Hole in Ones.
Bill was a Master Mason at United Lodge 8, Brunswick, Maine and a member of the Shrine at Kora Temple, Lewiston, Maine.
Bill is survived by his son, William J. Ganske; daughter, Katherine (Kandi) Snow and her husband, Daniel Snow; and 2 grandsons, Erik Snow and Steffan Ganske, all of Cundy’s Harbor; and 6 nieces and nephews.
Bill was predeceased by his loving wife of 67 years on July 16, 2011. He was also predeceased by his sister, Katherine Ganske McCauley, and daughter-in-law, Michel Ganske.
By the request of the family there will be a private graveside ceremony at the Cranberry Horn Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for the deceased will be on July 22, 2012 at 2 pm at the home of his daughter, Kandi Snow, 8 Snow Country Lane, in Cundy’s Harbor. Memorial contributions may be donated to the Cranberry Horn Cemetery Association, c/o Eleanor French, 13 Pennell Road, Harpswell, Maine 04079.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
