William Hinkfuss

William Hinkfuss, 91, of Green Bay, passed away peacefully on November 25, 2023 at St Vincent Hospital, leaving behind a legacy of family, kindness, humility and service. William was born on April 9, 1932 to Albert and Emma (Dillenburg) Hinkfuss in Shawano, WI, where he was a proud graduate of Shawano High School, Class of 1950. Upon graduation, he drove across the country on Route 66 to Flagstaff, AZ where he attended Northern Arizona University. He returned to Wisconsin after one semester and attended and graduated from St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI in 1954 with a degree in History. Promptly after graduation, William was drafted by the US Army and served in Okinawa, Japan Clerk until his discharge in January 1956, when he enrolled at Georgetown University Law School where he earned his JD in 1958 and his LLM in 1959.
While attending St. Norbert, William met Rosemary Walsh at a Catholic University conference. After his discharge, Bill and Rosemary were married on September 24, 1957 in Lima, OH, cementing their lifelong friendship, support and love of and for one another. They moved to Washington, DC where William continued his studies at Georgetown and Rosemary taught grade school. The young couple moved to Green Bay in 1959 where William began his 55+ years of practicing law serving the Green Bay community primarily with the firm Hinkfuss, Sickel, Petitjean and Wieting, representing large and small clients from all walks of life. He often did not charge a fee based on his unwavering belief that all people deserved representation, regardless of their place in life. While in private practice, William served on various state and local Bar committees for young law students and lawyers and promoted legal aid in Brown County for needy residents. He served as Counsel for the Green Bay Redevelopment Authority for a number of years helping to guide many important redevelopment projects for the City of Green Bay. In 2009, William was honored by the State Bar of Wisconsin for his 50 years of practice and, in 2011, the Brown County Bar Association awarded him a Lifetime Achievement Award.
William was also very involved in the Greater Green Bay community. Among his volunteer activities, he served two terms on the Green Bay City Council from 1964-1968, was Board President of the Brown County Historical Society and Premontre Board of Education, served as President and a member of the Heritage Hill Foundation for 12 years and was on the Board of Directors for Entrepreneurs of Color Counsel, Inc. William was a dedicated member and supporter of St. Mary of the Angels Parish since the early 1960's and volunteered for many years with Literacy Green Bay as a tutor, receiving recognition as Volunteer of the Year. His numerous volunteer endeavors also included time spent serving the Hmong community, the Oneida Nation and the Howe Community Resource Center. Outside of legal and community service, William was a lifelong Packers fan and longtime season ticket holder who followed the Packers until his final days. He believed in and supported the value of education and libraries and was rarely without a nonfiction book or magazine seeking to add to his knowledge and understanding of the complexities of the world and humankind.
Above all, however, William was a dedicated father, grandfather and great grandfather who valued family. He was most pleased being with family, whether for holidays, special occasions, Saturday afternoon picnics or family gatherings in the backyard of the longtime family home on Monroe Avenue overlooking the Fox River. William was a scholarly gentleman to the end, the embodiment of wisdom and kindness and a humble and proud citizen of Green Bay who leaves a rich legacy for all to emulate.
William is survived by his children: Eileen (Preston) Long, Timothy (Kathy) Hinkfuss, Paul (Sally) Hinkfuss, Mary (Andy) Collins and Anne (David) Perkins, 6 granddaughters: Sarah (Kenny) Diekroeger, Katie Hinkfuss (Enrique Sanchez), Cait Long, Madeline (Ryan) Frederking, Marie Hinkfuss and Molly Perkins; 3 grandsons: Preston (Arabel) Long, Andrew (Kristin) Hinkfuss and Michael Hinkfuss; 3 great grandchildren: Kenneth James III (KJ), Penelope and Kathleen (Kate); 1 brother Daniel (Enrite) and 1 sister Helen Hinkfuss; and numerous nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Rosemary Walsh Hinkfuss, his son Christopher Hinkfuss, his brother John Hinkfuss and his parents Albert and Emma Hinkfuss and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be held Friday, December 1, 2023, from 3:30 pm until 6:30 pm with a vigil at 6:30 pm at Newcomer Cremations, Funerals & Receptions, 340 S. Monroe Ave. Green Bay.
Visiting continues on Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 10:00 am until 10:45 am with Mass at 11:00 am at St. Mary's of the Angels, 650 S. Irwin Ave. with Fr. Finnian, OSF, officiating.

Private inurnment will take place at Allouez Catholic Mausoleum.

Memorials are suggested to the Howe Community Resource Center and Literacy Green Bay.

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