Full Obituary

WILLIAM C. "PETE" BALLARD, age 69, of Stanley, WI, passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at his home, surrounded by family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Thorp Funeral Home, in Thorp, WI. Rev. Don Meuret will officiate and burial will follow in St. Bernard's Catholic Cemetery in Thorp, WI. Pallbearers will be: Cody Ballard, Tyler Ballard, Steve Horvat, Jim McIntire, Sebastian Neisius, and Jeff Dillard. Visitation will be held at Thorp Funeral Home, on Saturday, from 11am until time of service.
William Cledith Ballard was born on November 1, 1943 in Covington, TN, the son of Melvin and Sara (Burgett) Ballard. He was raised and received his education in Tennessee before moving to Michigan as a young teenager. Pete worked as an electrician and a journeyman millwright in the auto parts manufacturing industry for many years. He was united in marriage to Peggy Baker on November 10, 1969 in Bridgman, MI. They resided in Three Oaks, MI where he was instrumental in organizing the Rocket Youth Football program. They moved to Stanley, WI in 1997, where Pete was very close with the local Mennonite community and did a lot of driving for them when needed.
In his spare time, he loved fishing, hunting, watching his grandsons Tyler and Cody play football, listening to his granddaughter, Aryan, sing at competitions, and he also had passion for gunsmithing.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy, of Stanley, WI; three grandchildren: Cody, Tyler and Aryan Ballard; three aunts; one uncle; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents and by three children: David, Tina and Peter Ballard.