William Christ Minnich, Jr., age 71, passed away in the early morning hours of September 23, 2021 at Milner Community Health in Rossville, Indiana where he had resided since suffering a debilitating stroke in January 2020.
Bill was born September 15, 1950 in Washington, Indiana to William and Doris (Goetsch) Minnich. The oldest of three children, he spent his childhood in Linton, Indiana until the family moved to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in October of 1964. Bill was a 1968 graduate of Fond du Lac’s Goodrich High School where he was a star baseball player.
Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1970-72 and was stationed in West Germany. After completing his service, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a teaching degree in History. The majority of his career in education was spent at Goodrich High School where he was employed for over 30 years. During the summer months, Bill could be found at the ball diamonds umpiring hundreds of baseball and softball games every season. His dedication and umpiring excellence were recognized by the Fond du Lac Softball Association when he was inducted into the Fond du Lac Softball Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Bill moved to Frankfort, Indiana where he continued to umpire softball. He soon met and fell in love with Kim Lambert whose enduring companionship made his life brighter. Bill looked forward to playing Santa each year at TPA Park with Kim by his side as Mrs. Santa or the Polar Bear. He also volunteered every holiday season ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. A clown and jokester who loved challenging his nieces to a game of tiddlywinks, Bill was an avid baseball, football, basketball, and hockey fan with a head for stats and dates. He enjoyed following the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, University of Wisconsin sports, singing karaoke, writing letters to keep in touch with friends and loved ones, and spending time with Kim and his family. Bill’s favorite songs to sing at karaoke were Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Downtown, and These Boots are Made for Walking, which he enjoyed singing with Kim.
This service will be live-streamed at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 5, 2021. To participate, please click the link below:
https://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1165229
Visitation and Services
Bill’s funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 South Main St., Frankfort, IN 46041. Visitation will be 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm followed by the funeral service. Interment with Military Rites will be in Whiteman Cemetery, Michigantown after the funeral. All times listed are EDT. Memorial donations may be made to the Clinton County Parkview Home, 1501 Burlington Ave., Frankfort, IN 46041
Survived by:
He is survived by brother Fred (Loretta) Minnich of Michigantown, Indiana, nieces Jennifer Minnich of Michigantown and Rebecca Pritchett of Round Rock, Texas, grand-niece Vienne Pritchett of Round Rock, uncle Fred Goetsch, Jr. of Indianapolis, Indiana, aunts Dorothy Reid of Alexandria, Virginia, and Nancy Minnich, Allen, TX, girlfriend and cherished partner Kim Lambert of Rossville, Indiana, as well as many cousins and good friends.
Preceded by:
In addition to his parents, uncles Col. John Reid and Capt. Edward G. Minnich, Sr., and aunt Mary Lou Minnich, Bill was preceded in death by his sister Joyce Minnich on January 26, 1979.
Bill will be missed. I had the pleasure of knowing him since 2005. Play Ball!
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Facebook Twitter GoogleYeah. He loved to yell “play ball.” Before the first pitch. That was his passion.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBeen writing Bill sending Linton football news all season . Been concerned did not hear from him. We played Little League together. Sure sorry for your loss. Rest in peace my friend. Go Cubs
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Facebook Twitter GoogleHe really appreciated your sending news from Linton. He often read the articles to me.
He also enjoyed watching the Brewers beat the Cubs on many occasions.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI always enjoyed joking with Bill during the bingo games. He was fun. He always thanked us. He was knowledgeable and him and Kim loved each other so much. I know is missed by many. I also remember them singing karaoke.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI am so sorry to hear of Bill’s passing. I have fond memories of Fond du Lac Softball with Bill behind the plate. I am so glad that he was honored by FDL Softball Hall of Fame, he truly was a great umpire! Glad that he had made Wisconsin his home for so many years, and happy that he found joy and love in Indiana.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBill took his umpiring very seriously. Any time I would see him, he’d tell me how many games he had umpired so far that year.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleHe was a wonderful man whom loved to do so much to give back to his community. He was so much fun when we Gold Ladies came to Parkview for Bingo. When we called the number 4 “he would say before what” which we continued even after he went to Milners. He will be missed. Joyce Boyer
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI’m surprised Bill didn’t say ” Four? That is Brett Favre’s number!”
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI have known Bill since we were children in Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, and confirmation at the Saron United Church of Christ in Linton, IN. He loved his Linton friends and kept in touch over the years. The Minnich family was well respected. Bill will be fondly remembered.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBill loved Linton just as the signs say. He also loved his Saron Church friends. Everyone acted like they knew you their whole lives and made you part of their family.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleHe would walk past our house on his way from the county home to Village Pantry. Always had smile on his face. Miss seeing him.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBill liked to go out and have a good time.
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Facebook Twitter GoogleBill was my eldest first cousin, my parents, Jack and Dorothy M. Reid, were his uncle and aunt. He was totally unique, from his different color eyes, one blue, the other brown, to his neat obsession with the game of baseball, to his long, newsy letters which I was most grateful to have received more than once. He was always kind and thoughtful. His passing has left a void. May he Rest In Peace and enjoy his journey. I will love and miss you forever, cousin. My wife Nicole and my five kids join me in his tribute, as well as sympathies to Fred, Loretta, Jennifer, Rebecca, Vienna, uncle Fred, and Kimberly.
John and Nicole Reich-Reid
Timothy, Ashley, Savannah, Robert and Grace Reid
Paso Robles, CA
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Facebook Twitter GoogleI remember Bill as a kind fellow at Goodish High School as a Study Hall Monitor. The first time I met him he was strict. After time went by we became friends. The last time I was with him was in. 1997 as a Senior in High School, he had a radio on and we had listened to a great radio comedy show. Forget on what that radio broadcast was but it was fun to listen with him. I will miss his fun and crazy tales about every day life.
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