William Louis Nett, “Willie”
William Louis Nett, “Willie”, 90, of Fond du Lac, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on 10/21/22, at Harbor Haven Health and Rehabilitation. He was born on November 1, 1931, in Fond du Lac, the only son and the eldest of six of the late Joseph and Constance (Hermanns) Nett.
William was raised on a farm in St. Peter and attended St. Peter grade school. From 1946-1950, he attended St. Norbert High School in De Pere, where he became lifelong friends with his classmates. He enjoyed attending class reunions with his boarding school ‘brothers’; attending his most recent reunion in 2017.
In 1953, he completed his basic training for the United States Army at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, serving in the military police. He received an Honorable discharge.
On June 11, 1955, he married the love of his life, the late Arlene Helen Jacques, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Dotyville, WI. The two settled in St. Peter and welcomed ten children. Arlene preceded him in death on October 28, 2000.
Energetic, resourceful, self-reliant, in 1958, he started a homebuilding company, William Nett Construction. He built homes in the St. Peter and Fond du Lac areas, including the creation of two subdivisions. He retired in 1991.
William earned his private pilot’s license and for many years enjoyed flying his Cessna Skyhawk out of his grass airstrip in St. Peter, often visiting friends and family around the country.
He was a lifetime member of St. Peter Catholic Parish, where he served as a lector and communion distributor. He was a man of deep faith, enjoyed praying the rosary and valued his yearly retreat at the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc. It was especially important to him to continue the family tradition of Catholic schooling for all of his children.
William was a man of diverse interests. He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids at the family cottage in Wautoma, biking, snowmobiling, ice fishing, sturgeon spearing, woodworking, travel, Sunday morning fly-ins, deer hunting, growing evergreens & trips to Blanks Supper Club. In his retirement years, he and Arlene took great enjoyment in building their infamous ‘Bill’s birdhouses.’
William enjoyed speaking German, is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Holy Family Parish, and the American Legion. He was a past member of the Fond du Lac Home Builders Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association and was a founding member of the Holyland Snowflyers snowmobile club. He was a regular blood donor. He was a man of deep faith, integrity, playfulness and generosity, always taking joy in helping others and giving back.
On April 13, 2002, William married Joan Ozinski, in Plover, WI. She preceded him in death on February 22, 2012.
Survivors include 10 children; Michael (Christine) Nett, Jean (Robert) Kramer, Neal (Kathryne) Nett, Lyle (Dawn) Nett, Daniel (Mary) Nett, Lori (Brian) Burbach, Joel (Jane) Nett, Rita DeNell, Lisa (John) Schmidt, and Timothy Nett. He is further survived by three sisters: Dorothy (James) Sullivan, Joann Nett, and Helen Nett. Additional survivors include 26 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
William was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Arlene; his wife, Joan and two sisters, Elizabeth Eppli and Sister Theresa Nett SSSF.
SERVICES: Visitation will be held on October 26, 2022 from 9:00-11:00 am at St. Peter Catholic Church, N8079 Church Rd, Malone, WI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am. Burial will take place at St. Peter Parish Cemetery.
William’s family would like to thank the Woodlands Senior Park and Harbor Haven Health & Rehabilitation, especially the nurses on the Sunrise/Sunset wing, and SSM Agnesian Hospice, for their loving kindness during William’s last days and years.
Memorials may be directed to the Knights of Columbus Refund Support Vocations Fund for priests and religious.