William Irving Reese

William (Bill) Irving Reese, 87, a third generation resident of Bainbridge Island, WA., passed away peacefully on Wednesday December 4, 2019 at the Madrona House on Bainbridge Island. Born in Seattle, February 24, 1932 he was the son of the late Jesse Lenhart and Margaret (Irving) Reese.

A graduate of Roosevelt High School Class of 1950, where Bill met and married the love of his life Joanne in 1952 and remained in Seattle. In 1955, Bill joined the United States Navy Reserves where he would spend 2 years as a reservist. During his reservist time, Bill was employed by his Uncle at the Olympic Foundry of Seattle where he would work his way up to sales manager of the company.

Bill would later leave the foundry and start his own company known as M and R Sales which provided piping and utility vaults for city infrastructure. During this same time, Bill would summer in Rolling Bay and spend the rest of the year in Seattle. In 1974, he and Joanne moved to Bainbridge permanently.

Bill's family has a long history on Bainbridge Island, having family living here continuously for the past 6 generations. It all started in the mid 1800's when his grandfather, who was a Civil Engineer supervising the construction of Coastal Artillery Batteries, was sent to Fort Ward to supervise the placement of a Gun Batteries there. From that time forward, the family would become a permanent part of the Island.

An avid fisherman and beyond, Bill also had a love for old stereo equipment especially Macintosh equipment and amplifiers. He was also a great fan of Jazz music.

Preceded in death by his beloved son William I., Jr. in March 2005 and his loving wife Joanne in July 2016 he is survived by his loving sons Michael (Patsy) of Bainbridge Island, Wa., and Gary (Diane) of Poulsbo, WA., his 4 beloved grandchildren; Kimberly Bund, Tracy Dew, Matthew Reese, and Shannon Reese along with his 6 loving great grandchildren.

Service information will be provided by the family in the coming weeks. The family requests donations in Bill's memory be made to the Charity of your choice.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island.