William W. “Bill” Kugler, 94, of Wayne, died Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 in Lincoln.
Bill generously donated his body to science and his memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
Memorials may be designated to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Friends of Music Scholarship at Wayne State College (initiated by Rae) and the Wayne Volunteer Fire Department.
Arrangements are with Hasemann Funeral Home of Wayne.
William “Bill” Weyerts Kugler was born July 6, 1929 in Wayne to Henry and Margaret (Weyerts) Kugler. He graduated from Wayne High School and attended Wayne State College and Norfolk Business College. Bill served in the United States Army in Japan and Korea from Oct. 27, 1950 to Sept. 3, 1952. He married Nelda Rae Wightman Oct. 2, 1955 at St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Mapleton, Iowa.
Bill was employed for several years by his father at Kugler Electric Maytag-Frigidaire Sales and Service in Wayne. He was subsequently employed as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service, retiring in 1989 after 30 1/2 years of service. Following his retirement, he worked several part-time jobs in Wayne.
Bill lived his entire life in Wayne. He was a lifelong member of Our Savior Lutheran Church where he served in various capacities, including Lutheran Brotherhood, former Luther League sponsor, choir member, and church council secretary. Bill was also a former participant in Wayne Players, Wayne Jaycees, and was a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion. He was a Boy Scouts Pro Deo recipient and served on the Wayne Volunteer Fire Department for 50+ years where he was instrumental in starting the Junior Fire Patrol program. He and Rae spent many winters in Arizona beginning in 1996 where he served as a former board member of the Conquistador adult living community in Mesa, Arizona.
Survivors include his daughters, Kim (Scott) Kraemaer of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Kara (Melanie) Kugler-Wright of Lincoln; granddaughter, Lauren Kraemaer; brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rae Kugler; his parents, Henry and Margaret Kugler; sisters Bonnie (Robert) Panter and Marian (Eugene) Perry; and daughter-in-law, Kelly Erisman.
