William "Bill" Charles Buchholtz

(June 8, 1945 – April 22, 2026)

William (Bill) Charles Buchholtz, aged 80 years old, journeyed to his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 after battling a brain infection. Prior to his passing, Bill was at peace in the knowledge that he would soon be with Jesus and his parents who predeceased him. The second of six children, Bill was born in Red Oak, Iowa to Marjorie Elaine (nee Wigstone) and Harry Copley Buchholtz. After a brief stay in Kansas, at two years old, Bill moved with his family to Hales Corners, Wisconsin, where he spent the remainder of his childhood. Bill loved sports, and he participated on the Whitnall High School baseball, basketball, track, and cross-country teams, earning his varsity letter in all four sports. While on the baseball team, Bill was named First Team All-Conference outfielder and led the conference as batting champion with a .407 average. After high school, Bill attended the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater, where he studied business and served as President of the Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. This was also where he met Barbara Jean Bell, who he was married to for 56 years.

After graduating college, Bill was hired into General Electric Medical Systems’ (GEMS) Financial Management Program. He worked a variety of financial management roles during his 34-year career there and was formally recognized as one of the “Best 100 Managers in all of General Electric”. He sometimes managed multiple positions (including one period when he worked five upper management roles simultaneously). Bill served as Interim CFO of GEMS for a time. While at GEMS, Bill helped grow the company, facilitating a series of acquisitions and joint ventures. He traveled extensively throughout Asia, Europe, and the U.S. for his work, even taking the supersonic Concorde to Paris for it. During the last several years of his career, Bill led a global effort to launch a new financial accounting system across the company. He retired at the age of 56 and was blessed with 25 years of a wonderful retirement in Wisconsin and Florida.

During the height of his career, Bill also balanced extensive church responsibilities. He was head of the building, finance, and stewardship committees and served a tenure as Lay Leader of Our Lord’s United Methodist Church in New Berlin, Wisconsin. He was passionate in sharing his gifts to help bring more people to God through Christ.

Bill lived out his love for others through service. An incredibly hard worker, he helped whenever he saw a need, not just at work and church but also at home. Bill loved the simple things, a good joke, working on home projects, playing softball and basketball through much of his adult life, golfing, and spending time with family. He was a protector, a provider, a giver, a mentor, and a humble servant to all who knew him. He was a loved and revered son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. Bill is survived by his beloved wife Barbara and their four children: Eric (Amy) Buchholtz, Alyssa (Brian) Carlson, Laura (David) Broderdorf, and Bradley (Rebecca) Buchholtz; ten grandchildren: Nathan, Adam, Leah, Natalie, Nicholas, Anna, Claire, Emma, Brandon and Emily; and five siblings: John (Charlotte) Buchholtz, Steven (Gayle) Buchholtz, Mark (Dianne) Buchholtz , Jane (John) Victorey, and Mary (Kevin) Landgrebe.

A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Monday, May 18, 2026, with a visitation (9:30-11:00 am), a service (11:15 am – 12:15 pm), and a reception (12:30 – 2:00 pm) at Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church, S50W33042 Town Road GE, Dousman, WI 53118.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Highview Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Samaritan’s Purse are welcome.