William "Bill" Harvey Ekdahl

 With heavy hearts, the family of William Ekdahl announces his departure from this life on September 4, 2024. Affectionately called Bill by all who knew and loved him, he lived an incredible life in the 89 years he spent on this Earth, having spent the last four decades in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 Bill was born the third of five children to Harvey E. Ekdahl and Bernice G. Hubbard in Manistique, Michigan on February 18, 1935. He grew up along those shores of Lake Michigan where at Manistique High he excelled in academics and sports, including football like his father. After graduating, he enlisted in the Navy before marrying his first wife, Audre Oliver with whom he shared three children. He left the Navy and became an Airman in the Air Force. He proudly served nearly 23 years in the military with his family accompanying him to many locations around the United States and even Ramstein Air Base in West Germany before retiring as a Master Sergeant and beginning his new career in banking, which brought him to New Mexico in the 1980s. In Albuquerque, he met and married his beloved wife of 36 years, Viola. The pair were rarely apart and enjoyed traveling the world to see many different countries and to spend time with family and friends all over the States. He loved to cheer on the Green Bay Packers as a proud “cheese head”.

 Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters Laurie Allender, and Stephanie Ekdahl, his son Michael (Monique) Ekdahl; his three stepchildren, Donald McNichol, and Lisa (Clarence) Gatan, and an older stepdaughter; stepdaughter-in-love Natalie McNichol; his brothers Larry Ekdahl and Harvey (Terri) Ekdahl, and his sister Linda (Dave) House; 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, 8 great-great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and friends around the globe.

 Preceding him in death are his beloved wife Viola; his parents; his brother Frank and sister-in-love Donna Ekdahl, sister-in-law Marianne (Larry) Ekdahl, sons-in-law Chuck (Laurie) Allender and David (Natalie) McNichol, daughter-in-law Cindy (Donald) McNichol, and great-granddaughter Kennedy Adamowich.

 A final goodbye for the family is scheduled for September 13, 2024, followed by a celebration of his life at Noon at French Funerals (9300 Golf Course Rd NW 87114). At a later date, interment with full military honors will be held at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the New Mexico Chapter Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Bill’s memory.

 Bill lived his life with a heart of gold and integrity. He will be dearly missed.