William E. Hughes, Jr., 86, of Kenosha, died Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at United Hospital System-Kenosha Campus.
Born on September 7, 1920, in Manitowoc, WI, he was the son of the late William E. and Mary Louise (Cleary) Hughes. Bill moved to Kenosha in 1927, where he attended St. Thomas Catholic Grade School and Lincoln Jr. High School before graduating from Kenosha High School in 1939. He then attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He entered the United States Army Air Corps during WWII on April 1, 1942, and was honorably discharged January 7, 1946, as a Staff Sergeant. He served in China, Burma and India. He received the American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with 2 bronze stars, 2 overseas service bars, 1 service stripe, Good conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and the WWII Victory Medal.
On June 17, 1944, he married Grace Hitzker at St. James Catholic Church.
He was employed by Dun & Bradstreet from 1946 until 1982 as a Business Analyst and from 1983 until 1987 he was coordinator of the Small Business Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
A member of St. Mark's Catholic Church, a former member of the Church Council, St. Mark's Men’s Club, and Treasurer of St. Mark's Scouts, he was very active in Home & School, and coaching St. Mark's football. He had been Kenosha County Supervisor for the 8th District, past president of Kenosha Taxpayers, Inc., board member of Kenosha Catholic Social Services, and Neighborhood Housing Services.
Surviving are his iwfe, Grace, of Kenosha; two daughters, Grace (David) McCune of Kenosha and Kathleen (John) Murry of Waukesha, WI; a son, William (Peggy) Hughes, III of Mequon, WI; eleven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Bill will also be missed by his caretakers, Sue Lynott and Becky Gigliotti.
He was preceded in death by three brothers, James, Thomas and Robert; four sisters, Helen Seager, Mary Louise Jaskwhich, Dorothy Sisk, and Betty LaDuke; and Kathleen Hughes who died in infancy.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 12, from Proko Funeral Home at 9:30AM. Mass to be celebrated at St. Mark's Catholic Church at 10:00AM. Interment to follow at St. James Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday at Proko Funeral Home from 4:00PM until 7:00PM. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Scholarship Fund at St. Joseph High School in Kenosha or St. Mark's Heritage Scholarship Fund in Kenosha would be appreciated by the family.