06/15/2026
William E. Roots
August 27, 1925 – June 14, 2026
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Obituary
Willam Edward Roots, age 100, transitioned from this life on June 14, 2026. Bill was born on August 27, 1925, to Anna Leota Myers and Ward Roots in Gary, Indiana. He grew up and was educated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He completed a degree in education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Masters of Education in Administration at the University of Colorado. He completed his certification in Educational Administration Leadership at UW-Milwaukee.
Bill married Gertrude Roge (deceased in 2017) on June 5, 1948, and they had three children: Linda (Terrence Markovich), Kimball (Barry Young) and Brian (Ruth Kauffmann). Besides his children, he is survived by two grandchildren: Naomi Roots (Oscar Quintana) and Paul Roots (Sarah Cordes Roots), as well as three great-grandchildren: Saya and Julian Quintana and Asa Roots. He is also survived by many friends and nieces and nephews. He especially enjoyed the company of Lu Powell in his years as a widower, and the family is grateful to his neighbor Audrey Richter for her tender support and to the many friends at church and at the Ridge who made his life rich.
Bill was in service in the Army Air Corps from 1943-1945, becoming a Second Lieutenant as a Bombardier Navigator. The G.I. Bill made his higher education possible. His professional employment was for the Fox Point-Bayside School District from 1949-1985, during which time he served as a teacher at the Peter Stormonth School, and as principal at Stormonth and Bayside Schools. He also served as president of School Masters of South-East Wisconsin and president of Suburban School Administrators of Milwaukee County.
After retirement in 1985, Gert and Bill travelled extensively through all 50 states and 36 different countries. Bill loved sports and enjoyed baseball, bowling, racquetball and golf, winning trophies (that Gert eventually relegated to the attic) and medals in the Wisconsin Senior Olympics. His great pride was the enthusiasm for adventure that his children and grandchildren displayed by participating in AFS abroad, American Red Cross, Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, motorcycling, camping and backpacking around the USA.
Bill loved his friends, his church and his family. He felt that his wife, Gert, was a gem and was always available for counseling and assistance. He was a great storyteller and loved to make people laugh. He hopes to be remembered as a thoughtful, considerate person and a perpetual optimist with an Irish sense of humor.
A Celebration of Life will be held at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (4860 Arthur Rd, Slinger, WI 53086) on Saturday, July 25, Time To Be Determined. Memorial gifts in Bill’s name can be made to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Slinger, or Cedar Ridge Partners in Caring (113 Cedar Ridge Drive, West Bend, WI 53095)
A private family graveside service and burial was held at Graceland Cemetery in Milwaukee.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Common Heart Hospice and the nursing staff at Cedar Lake Skilled Nursing for their care and compassion at the end of his life.
Myrhum-Patten Funeral & Cremation Service has been entrusted with Bill’s arrangements. For additional information or to leave an online condolence on the tribute wall, please visit www.myrhum-patten.com.
