I’ve been incredibly blessed to have Cheryl in my life for 10yrs, as my mother in law, and this relationship has led me to be intensely protective of her. In my mind, no man was going to be good enough for her….that is, until she met Bill. He was compassionate and kind, witty and wise, and in short, everything we could’ve hoped for in a partner for her. Cheryl and Bill brought out the absolute best in each other, and as a result, brought out the best in everyone who had the pleasure of spending time with the two of them. They inspired each other, and their mutual respect for one another was an example to us all. We were lucky enough to see first hand their relationship grow and evolve into a love that we all hope for, a love that is unselfish, unwavering and unconditional. You only have to look to Bill’s sons to see the kind of man he was. It takes a good man to raise little boys to be great men, and Bill was full of pure adoration when it came to his boys, their incredible wives, and his grandchildren. He was immensely proud of each one of them, and was not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve when he spoke about them. He raised his boys with an intense work ethic, a sense of loyalty to the things that matter, and family above all else. You see these lessons reflected in the kind of husbands and fathers they’ve become. Bill and Cheryl connected our families in a way only they could, and in a way that will live on, even in his absence. The path of their relationship was not without its challenges. Bill was diagnosed with cancer, and Cheryl lost her mother Marion, suddenly and unexpectedly. These difficult times could’ve proven too much and driven them apart, but instead, it only provided them an opportunity to solidify their love for one another, to be a source of strength and comfort for each other, and to inspire the rest of us with their hope and compassion. When someone passes on after struggling through a lengthy illness, it’s easy to recognize the silver lining. This is not the case today, a good man was taken far too soon, but rather than becoming cynical, bitter and jaded, we should aspire to live our lives they way he did; full of joy and gratitude. We will always be grateful for every minute our family spent with Bill and we will miss him always.