WILLIAM A. “BILL” JAKLE

1931-2016

William A. “Bill” Jakle, 85, passed away peacefully after a brief illness August 2, 2016. A longtime resident of Houston, Bill was born to Augustine “Carter” and Elsie Jakle in Flagstaff, Arizona on January 28, 1931.

Bill enjoyed growing up in Flagstaff, where he fought forest fires as a pre-teen, lettered in seven sports, and attended the University of Arizona. He served as a 1st Lt. Air Force jet pilot during the Korean War and later as a flight instructor in Texas where he met his wife Sammie in 1955.

Bill most enjoyed his family, friends, flying, traveling, skiing, golfing and a long career as a manufacturer’s representative in the furniture industry. He kept his Piper Cherokee and his pilot’s license current for years, and continued to work and play golf until recently. An avid golfer, Bill won the Arizona State Open as a teenager and was a member of the Woodlands Country Club for over 45 years, winning the Club Senior Championship the year he turned 50.

Preceded in death by his parents and an infant son, William Jakle, Jr., Bill is survived by his wife Sammie, children Wendy Benscoter (David), Dawn Dobson (Eric), Lynn, Michael (Stacie) and Jonathan (Michelle); nine grandchildren and one greatgrand daughter, his sisters Patricia O’Keefe (John), and Mary Kowalski; four nieces and eleven great-nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Doctors Without Borders.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at St. Anne’s Church Thursday, August 18th, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon with a reception to follow.