William R. "Bill" Lovelace, age 67, passed away on May 14, 2008, at his residence due to complications from peripheral vascular disease. He was born on June 14, 1940, in Monroe, WI, to Jane (Butcher) and Don Lovelace, and was the eldest of four children. Bill grew up in Monroe, graduated from Monroe High School in 1958, and went on to attend UW-Platteville from 1958-1962. While enrolled there in the technology program, he was a member of the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Circle K, and the Letterman's Club. In 1963, Bill was hired as the planning engineer for the City of Oshkosh, where he also served as secretary on both the City Plan Commission and the Zoning Board of Appeals. As an engineer for Michael Baker Jr Inc., Bill became the resident and supervisory engineer for the Trans-Alaska Pipeline project in early 1974. While in the field north of Fairbanks, he oversaw the design and construction of 14 miles of Arctic highway in the Brooks Range, as well as Section 1 of the Alaska Pipeline itself. Bill married Patricia (Kocik) Lovelace on October 24, 1975, and they had two daughters, Kelly and Kady. Bill's employment took the family from Portage, WI, to Iron Mountain, MI, to Martinez, GA, and eventually back north to settle in Middleton, WI. Bill and Pat divorced in 2000, after 24 years of marriage. Bill was a very intelligent man, with the skills to always be able to build a better mousetrap or find a faster, better marketing tool. He passed on that knowledge to many people in his lifetime. That brilliant light that once shone far, is now dark and will be forever missed.

He is survived by his children, Kelly (Jeffrey) Bunge of Madison and Kady (Nathan) Fox of Fitchburg; five grandchildren, Cheyenne, Gavin and Dylan Bunge, and Andrew and Xander Fox; a brother, James (Donna) Lovelace of Martinez, GA; and a sister, MaryEllen Lovelace of Brodhead, WI; nieces, Erika, Kimberly, and Joy Lynn; nephews, Jeffrey and Darren; several great-nieces and nephews; and cousins, Nancy and Herbert Trotter. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jane and Don; his brother, Thomas Lovelace; and his aunt, Marguerite Trotter.

A graveside memorial service for family and friends will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at Sunset Memory Gardens, 7302 Mineral Point Road, Madison, WI 53717.