William Alger

March 27, 1926 - December 2, 2016

William Joseph Alger was born on March 27, 1926 at Providence Hospital on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan.  His father, George Edward Alger, was a salesman for Headlight Overalls.  His mother, Agnes Eagan, was a homemaker.  Both had strong faith and were active in their Catholic parish, St. Agnes.  When William was still an infant, George and Agnes laid him on the altar at Duns Scotus Monastery and dedicated him to the Lord. 

Bill grew up in Detroit, Michigan.  The city was large but his neighborhood was close-knit and supportive.  Bill was the baby of the family.  He had five older siblings, Mary, George, Helen, Jack and Martha.  Bill and siblings spent summers at Mandon Lake and occasionally visited Long Island, New York, where Bill’s maternal grandparents lived.  He began a life-long friendship with Harry McCormick, Pete Budenhalzer and Ray Gingras.

Though he had friends and fun outside of his home, his family remained very close and loving.  Their support for each other would become critical when the family faced tragedy.  On a January afternoon in 1938, when Bill was 12 years old, he came home from school to find his mother had suffered a cerebral aneurysm. She died in the evening with her 6 children at her deathbed and her husband pleading, “Agnes, please don’t leave us!”  The family relied on love and faith during such a pivotal moment in their life.

As Bill grew older, he was as an alter server in his church before serving as an usher.  He loved to play the harmonica for his own enjoyment. 

At the age of 17, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy.  He joined his two brothers, George and Jack.  He was extremely proud to serve as an Aviation Machinist's Mate 3rd Class during World War II.  He was stationed at the US Naval Training Center in Chicago, the Naval Air Station at Moffett Field in San Francisco and at several locations throughout the Pacific Theater.  During his service he was awarded the Victory Medal and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.    

When he returned home, Bill earned his GED before attending a year of Junior College in Flint, Michigan.  He used his experience in the service and his education to become a founding partner, owner and salesman at Panama Awning/Kool Vent Company in Redford, Michigan.   It would be the beginning of a successful 4o year career. 

Bill was set up on a blind date with a girl named Ginny.  Ginny’s father and Bill’s brother-in-law, Carl, arranged the date.  The couple fell in love and Bill proposed to Ginny in the back seat of Ginny’s parents’ car on their way home from Grand Rapids on a 4th of July weekend. 

Bill and Ginny were married on January 21, 1950 at St. Agatha Church in Redford, Michigan.  It was the beginning of an amazing 66-year marriage.  The couple moved into their first home—a studio apartment in Redford that didn’t even have a sink!

Bill and Ginny were blessed with seven children, Jim, Anne, Steve, Mary, Patty, Jeanne and Clare.  The children were well adjusted and kind. 

Bill made sure to take time to enjoy life.  He loved to travel and explore new places and climates.  He spent his winters with Ginny in Fort Myers, Florida at Palmetto Palms.  There they formed relationships with many friends and it quickly changed from a vacation spot into their home.  He played tennis in Florida and golf.  He participated in activities in Palmetto Palms and loved beating everyone in card games. He even participated in musicals with Ginny.  He was able to appreciate the little things, like having a ham and cheese croissant with Ginny at the Burger King lounge.  He loved his cat, Barney.

Bills greatest joy in life was his family.  It was large and it was loud and he loved every minute with them.  Even though, at times, it was hard to get a word in—Bill would say, “Can I speak!?”  When he told the grandkids stories, he’d often say, “Now, are you listening to me?”  He was proud and interested in all of them.

Bill was known as the “Ear Doctor” to all of his 24 grandchildren. He would check their ears and magically pull quarters from them. All the kids and even the adult grandkids loved it. At the last family reunion in August 2016, all the grandchildren lined up for the very last time and Bill pulled quarters from their ears.  In the last few years of his life, he co-authored "The Foul Language Dictionary, the Anecdote to Bad Language," with his grandson, Elliott Blatt.

Bill will be remembered for his loving devotion to his family.  He was a true gentleman, always polite and considerate.  He was kind and thoughtful.   He saw the best in everyone and showed by his example the meaning of “true love”. 

William “Bill” Joseph Alger passed away peacefully at his home on December 2, 2016 at the age of 90.  He was the beloved husband of Virginia Alger for 66 years.  He was the loving father of Jim (Ellen) Alger, Anne (the late Fred) Shier, Steve (Vicky) Alger, Mary (Kevin) Dolin, Patty Alger, Jeanne (Bob) McAllister and Clare (Robb) Blatt.  He was the proud grandfather of 24 grandchildren.  He was the dear great-grandfather of 26 great grandchildren.  He will be missed by many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 5th from 4pm to 8pm with a 7pm Rosary at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Bill's life will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 6th at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 23815 Power Road in Farmington, Michigan. He will lie in state at 11am until the time of Mass at 11:30am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Angela Hospice in Bill's honor.

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