William "Bill" Wild

William “Bill” Gustav Wild was called home to the arms of our Lord on February 4, 2024. Bill was born on April 27th, 1934 in Buffalo New York to Henry and Lillian Wild. He was one of seven children. Tough on the outside but soft on the inside is how those closest to Bill would describe him. He was kind and didn’t believe in holding grudges. His motto was to be “attentive and forgiving” in every aspect of his life. He prayed daily and was a very faithful and spiritual man. Bill met his wife Cecilia in the drafting room at Linde Air Products in Tonawanda, New York. Cecilia was instantly smitten with Bill after she first met him. According to Cecilia Bill blushed all shades of red after their first meeting, something she wasn’t used to. She instantly decided that Bill was going to be the one for her. Shortly after their meeting Bill enlisted with the United States Army and was sent to Germany for two years. Cecilia and Bill wrote to each other nearly every day during their time apart. Right after Bill got back to the US, he took Cecilia to the Buffalo Botanical Gardens and asked her for her hand in marriage. They married in 1957 in Cecilia’s hometown of Kenmore, New York at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Cecilia and Bill shared 67 wonderful years together. His advice for how to keep a happy marriage is to follow the bible’s word about never going to bed angry or upset. In his own words, “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger and differences.” Their union brought four beautiful children into their lives completing their family. Bill was a loving, but strict dad who prioritized sharing his love of the Lord with his children. He wanted them to grow up knowing the Lord’s love and compassion. He also wasn’t afraid to get down and “rough and tumble” play with his kids. He also loved taking his kids to all the different museums, zoos, and art galleries that New York and Canada had to offer. It was important to Bill that his kids were exposed to all the amazing culture that the world had to offer. Bill worked as an engineer in multiple different industries throughout his life including General Motors and Fisher-Price. He found joy in bringing new innovations to the world and was passionate about helping his employees learn and grow within the company. Bill was always striving for greatness and never shied away from helping others along the way. The outdoors was Bill’s happy place. He loved to hike and was a part of two different hiking clubs in Arizona. He also loved staying active by playing tennis, bowling, racquetball, and swimming. Bill is survived by his loving wife Cecilia Wild, his daughter Sister Mary Wild, his sons William “Bill” Wild Jr., Daniel Paul Wild (Elizabeth), and Martin Gerald Wild, his brothers Father Robert Wild and Gerald Wild, and his six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by Henry Paul Wild Jr., Claire Crowley, Leon Wild, and Sister Andrea Wild. A memorial service will be held on February 21, 2024, at 10:30 AM. The service will take place at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Parish 17111 W Bell Rd, Surprise, AZ 85374. He will then be laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Carmel of the Assumption Monastery. Donations can be made by check mailed to 5206 Center Drive Latrobe Pennsylvania 15650.