William Hapner Sr.

On March 12, 2021, the world lost a very good man who loved his wife with his whole being for more than 52 years. William “Bill” Hapner Sr., lately of Allendale, Michigan, passed away today from several underlying health issues, non-Covid related, which he had been battling for a long time. Born in 1940, in South Bend, Indiana, Bill moved with his family to Grand Rapids and attended Grand Rapids South High School and then Catholic Central High School. He enlisted and served in the United States Navy from 1957-1963, and then began a 30-year employment at General Motors Fischer Body Plant No. 2 as an oiler, line worker, and supervisor. Bill also dabbled in farming, sold houses for Westdale Realty, served on the Comstock Park School Board, worked in sales and film editing for K49DH in Brookings, Oregon, and became a TSA worker at Gerald R. Ford International Airport. After retiring from General Motors at age 50, William traveled around the country with his wife and two youngest sons in a motorhome experiencing the grandeur of the U.S. in ways that most people only dream of. William was preceded in death by his parents, William Worth and Roselyn Mae (Knappen) Hapner [Quillen]; stepfather, Robert Quillen; brother and sister-in-law, Ralph Harry and Ingrid Hapner; brother and sister-in-law, John Chadwick and Janice Hapner; and sister, Patricia (Hapner) Modreski. He is survived by his wife, Judith (Rivers) Hapner; sister, Carolyn (Hapner) Hall; daughters and sons-in-law, Stacy (Hapner) and Michael Slomski, Jacquie (Hapner) and Paul Bogdans, Marianne (Hapner) and George Francis, Angie (Gould) and Martin Johnson; son, Patrick Hapner; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Karen (Smathers) Hapner; and son, Michael Hapner. “Bumpa,” aka Uncle Bill Hapner also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He will also be remembered by 26 foster children who they loved and mentored over the years. An active and involved Catholic, Bill was a Knight of Columbus, helped deliver food to homeless shelters, and served on various parish committees and as an usher and Extra-ordinary Eucharistic Minister, most recently at St. Luke University Parish in Allendale and St. Michael’s Parish in Coopersville. William had a love of football (never really giving up on the Lions) and possessed a witty sense of humor. Even while hospitalized, he persevered in viewing his favorite shows on Fox News, and in hospice he continued to tinker with things to “fix” them and make them more efficient. The family will cherish memories of spontaneous road trips with picnic lunches, crooning along to oldies, and the many practical life lessons and advice he always had to share. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, from 4-7 p.m. with a rosary at 7 p.m. at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf, 6651 Scott St., Allendale. A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, 17150 88th Ave., Coopersville, with Fr. Ayub Francis Nasar presiding. Attendees are asked to wear appropriate face masks and practice social distancing. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Finish the Mission (A veteran assistance program).