Stephen Williams Jr

VISITATION:

10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

SERVICE:

12 p.m., Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel

Stephen E. Williams Jr., 54, of the town of Tilden, Chippewa Falls, died Thursday, December 29, 2016 at St. Joseph's Hospital.

Stephen was born April 18, 1962 in Eau Claire to Stephen E. and Bonita (Holm) Williams. He grew up on his family's dairy farm in Tilden and graduated from Chippewa Falls High School. He had a real love for german shepherd dogs and horses, as well as anything that presented a challenge or sparked a curiosity. A rather unique hobby of Stephen's was the pilot's license he obtained as a young man, and he would regularly take his family and acquaintances out on flights for an afternoon.

In 1987, he moved to Appleton with his family to begin employment with Dawes Rigging and Crane as an Operating Engineer, which, perhaps in line with the challenge and risk of managing an aircraft, he excelled at and took great pride in.

Stephen lived his life warm and open-hearted. Mind sharp as a tack, he was always curious, always ready with a story, and always parting with the phrase: "Glad you got a chance to see me."

Stephen is survived by his mother, Bonnie (Don) Wolfe of Chippewa Falls; father, Stephen E. Sr. (Annie) Williams of Chippewa Falls; daughter, Kala Williams of Rochester, Minn.; son, Stephen E. III Williams of Vidor, Tex.; siblings, Benjamin (Kelly) Williams, Paul Williams, and Michell (Dan) Harshman all of Chippewa Falls; former spouse, Betty Swissdorf of Chippewa Falls; step-daughter, Jocelynn German of Chippewa Falls; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Stephen S. and Gladys (Walter) Williams and Allen (Pauline) Holm.

A funeral service will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at Pederson-Volker Funeral Chapel, 44 E. Columbia St., Chippewa Falls. Interment will be at Forest Hill Cemetery, Chippewa Falls. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.