On Dec. 15, 2022, the world lost a remarkable entrepreneur. William “Bill” Fredrick Markee passed away at the William Middleton Veterans’ Hospital in Madison, Wis. Dad was a loving husband, father of 12, grandfather of 34, and great-grandfather of 17. He was a brother, uncle, and friend to many who will miss him dearly.
Dad was born on July 4, 1936, in a farmhouse near Jug Creek, on the outskirts of Rockton, Wis. He was the oldest of seven children born to Ray and Florence (Peck) Markee. Dad often took on the responsibility of helping care for his mother and siblings. He learned to grow up quickly, work hard, and never quit.
As a teenager, Dad traveled to Montana to work as a ranch hand. It was there he learned to love the wilderness and dreamed of one day owning his own land. Dad had also fallen in love with Teresa Rynes, whom he had met in high school in Ontario, Wis. When he returned from Montana, he married Teresa in Mount Tabor, Wis., on July 31, 1954. Together they began their journey of raising their large family of 12 children on a small farm on the edge of Janesville, Wis. After years of hard work, they achieved the dream of owning land together in Ontario, where our family enjoyed many years hunting, camping, and fishing.
Early on, Dad worked at Fisher Body/General Motors, but his entrepreneurial spirit quickly kicked in. He ventured out, designed a water softener, and started his own company, Markee Water Conditioning & Manufacturing. Over the next three decades, the business grew and had distributors in several cities and states. As time went on, Dad’s business ventures expanded, which included swimming pool installation. The land in Ontario has an artesian spring. Always ahead of his time, Dad founded Wisconsin Springs to become one of the first to commercially bottle spring water. For a time, Dad’s product, Country Valley Water, was offered at the Milwaukee Bucks arena.
Dad joined the National Guard at a very young age and served many years. He was proud to be a member of the Veterans of Underage Military Service. In 1961, Wisconsin’s 32nd Red Arrow Infantry Division mobilized to Fort Lewis, Wash. Dad was one of 10,000 Wisconsin guardsmen activated in the Berlin Crisis. While serving his country, he moved his young family to Washington. As sergeant, he was in command of his own platoon, including Green Bay Packer Ray Nitschke. He loved being a sergeant and was proud of his men.
Dad was heavily involved in his community. He was a member of the St. Patrick’s Church Council, the Knights of Columbus, the VFW, and many other organizations. Dad loved going to the Rock County 4-H Fair, setting up his booth, and meeting with his customers. He also sponsored many charity events and was thrilled to watch his Markee Water-sponsored basketball team play in Janesville. Dad always helped those who were down on their luck, even when going through tough times of his own.
In support of Mom’s dream of owning a business, Dad collaborated with her to create Tree Enterprises, an industrial sewing company. They successfully worked together until her passing in 2018. Since then, Dad got up every morning, went to work, and ran the business until his death.
Dad is loved, and his legacy lives on through his surviving family.
Children and grandchildren: Denise Markee, (Nicole, Blake and Hunter), Lisa Oberbruner (Dan Jr.), Judy and Edward Elsner, Steven and Becky Markee, (Savannah and Madison), Kathy and Jeff Crane (Nathan, Nick, Nolan and Nevin), Colleen Markee (Sophia, Haley, Victoria, Emily and Amelia Leoni), Marcie and Dave Flodeen (Chelcie, Tanner and John), Christa Markee (Caleb and Karly Stowers), Heidi and Warren Janisch (Laura, Isaiah and Malachi), Rex Markee (Cullin, Taytum and Brady), Dawn and Rob Ladik (Jacob, Jacqueline, Julia and Justine), and Mat and Billy Jean Markee, (Kora and Sammy). He also is survived by his brother, Dan; his sister-in-law, Joann and brother Brian; 17 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his loving wife, Teresa; his oldest son, William Jr.; his son-in-law, Dan Oberbruner; his granddaughters, Caranne Ambrose Oberbruner and Maria Rose Janisch; his brothers, Alan and Gary; his sisters, Monica and Marcia; his sister-in-law, Johanne; and his grandson-in-law, Doug Villars.
A visitation will be from 5–7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28, at Apfel Wolfe Funeral Home in Janesville. Catholic Mass will be at St. John Vianney in Janesville on Thursday, Dec. 29, with a visitation at 10 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m. Christian burial will take place at 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at Billings Creek Cemetery in Ontario, Wis.
We will miss Dad’s stories of real-life experiences that molded him into the person he became. We will miss his voice, inflection, and mannerisms as he shared them. We have grown to realize how precious they are and will forever cherish them.
Rest in peace now, Dad, in the arms of God. You live on in our hearts, souls, and memories. We love you. God Bless you.
“The heights of great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.” — Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
