William Carl Bair

William Carl Bair, 71, of Jefferson, formerly of Pierre, S.D., died suddenly Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, S.D.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Bill was born on Dec. 9, 1937, in St. Johns, Mich., to Carl A. and Violet T. (Kridner) Bair. He was raised in rural St. Johns and graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1959 and then graduated from Michigan State University with a BS degree in wildlife management in 1963.

He married Sharron Kay Bryant on Sept. 16, 1961, at the First United Methodist Church in St. Johns. Together they raised three girls. He worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, from 1963 to 1984 as a wildlife refuge manager in the states of Wisconsin, Ohio and Washington, D.C. (six months training), then as a wildlife biologist specializing in waterfowl diseases for the north central states including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.

He enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, fixing anything broken and spending time with his grandchildren. He was the Amateur Golf Champion for the state of Michigan in 1955. He held the course championship at the Clinton County Country Club for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Sharron; three daughters, Diana Mercy of Piedmont, S.D., Brenda (Loren) Paul of Pierre, S.D., and Pam (Kelly) Ridgway of Sioux City; grandchildren, Nathan, Christian, Jordan, Carmen, Hayley, Jesse and Ty; a sister, Judith Ann (Dan) Clark of LaCrosse, Wis.; a brother, Philip (Michele) Bair of Crystal Lake, Mich.; a brother-in-law, Larry (RaeEllen) Foy of Mecosta, Mich.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carl; his mother, Violet; stepmother, Barbara; and sisters, Patty and Linda.