William Riley

William “Bill” Riley, age 87, passed away on January 7th, 2024. Bill was born on July 1, 1936, in Plainwell, MI, to James Riley, an onion farmer, and Kathryn Riley, a nurse. Bill grew up in Plainwell and was active in high school, playing basketball, football, and serving as class president. He went on to receive a BA in History and Economics from Miami University of Ohio. After graduation, he joined the army, where he served as a Specialist 4 in South Korea for two years.

He attended law school at University of Michigan but left after the first year because of his sense of responsibility to support his father on the farm. He spent the rest of his career as an onion broker and farmer. Bill was incredibly hard working, often coming home late in the day covered in the black dirt of the marsh, but he also loved to play hard. He spent summer nights and weekends on Pine Lake boating, water-skiing and playing cribbage or euchre with his wife and their friends. In the winter, he loved to snowmobile with his family, pulling his kids along in sleds. In his later years, he enjoyed spending winters in Punta Gorda, Florida with his wife, where they would boat out on the gulf.

Bill was a dedicated husband and father of three. He put all of his children through college and was proud of their accomplishments. He was also a dedicated son, visiting his mother every Sunday throughout his adulthood and then daily when she was in the hospital. He is survived by his wife: Liane Riley; three children: Melissa (Jeff) Bradford, Veronica (Mike) Martens, and William “Butch” Riley II and grandchildren: Cassidy, Morgan, Finn and Magnus. He is preceded in death by his parents James and Kathryn Riley and brother James Riley.

Visit with family and friends on Friday, January 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church; 766 S. Farmer St. in Otsego.  A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 at the same location. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be to Tallgrass Sudbury School, LaGrange, IL, www.tallgrasssudbury.org, or St. Margaret’s School in Otsego.

While visiting Bill’s webpage at www.amsfuneralhomes.com please sign the guestbook and/or share a memory with the family.

The family is being assisted by Avink, McCowen & Secord Funeral Home; 120 S. Woodhams St. Plainwell, MI 49097 (269-685-5881).