William "Bill" Tussing

Christmas

William “Bill” Tussing, age 83, of Christmas, died Sunday, April 18, 2021 at Medilodge of Munising.  He was born in Munising on June 10, 1937 to the late Henry and Derilda (LaFave) Tussing.  Bill attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1955.  He earned a certificate from Coyne Electric and was hired by Diebold which specialized in safe and bank equipment.  While home over the 4th of July in 1958 Bill ran into an old friend, Germaine “Geri” Oswald, at the Knotty Club. He asked her to dance and that was all they needed.  Bill and Geri were married that year on November 22 at St. Ann’s Church in Milwaukee and together they raised four children.  Bill’s work moved his family to Detroit, Boston, and finally the Chicago area where he lived until his retirement in 1995 after nearly forty years with Diebold.  After retirement Bill and Geri moved to the U.P. to make their home in Christmas where he reconnected with family and old friends as well as made many new friends.  Bill loved fishing.  He never missed a chance to get out on Lake Michigan or Lake Superior.  In his younger years Bill loved bowling, spending time with family and friends and hosted many fish and garbage can boils that were neighborhood favorites.  In retirement Bill enjoyed daily walks and cruising around town enjoying the views and a cigar with his dog, Itty Bitty.  He was a member of the Munising Moose Lodge, St. Therese Mission in AuTrain, St. Edward’s in Detroit and St. Mary’s Church in Mundelein, IL.

Bill is survived by his wife of over sixty-two years, Geri Tussing of Christmas; children, Hank (Laura Lee) Tussing of Gages Lake, IL, Linda (Dave) Wurzbach, and Greg (Anne) Tussing both of Grayslake, IL; grandchildren, Adam (Christy), Brett (Marissa) and Doug (Ashley) Tussing and Megan (Josh) Wurzbach; great-grandson, Jack Henry Tussing; sister-in-law, Rita Ritchie; brothers-in-law, Jim (Julie) and Joe Oswald; aunts, Ruth and Norma; Uncle Fran and numerous aunts, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his son, Billy Tussing; parents, Henry and Derilda; and in-laws, John and Dorothy Oswald.

Visitation will be Friday, April 30, 2021 at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.  During the visitation at the funeral home, COVID precautions and attendance regulations will be observed as directed by the MDHHS.  Masks will be required and the funeral home staff will be assisting with social distancing and the 25-person attendance restriction.  At 7:00 p.m. members of the Munising Moose Lodge will conduct a Ritual of the Loyal Order of Moose.  Bill’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Michael Ocran on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising.  Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery.