William Albert Weinert was born the middle child of five to Leo and Gladys Weinert on November 18, 1943. Bill started school at Nativity in Detroit, but moved to Queen of Peace in Harper Woods at age 11 and graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1961. In between his paper route duties, he played baseball with a federation level baseball team as a catcher and spent the winter months playing hockey as goalie with his neighborhood buddies at outdoor rinks.

Following graduation, Bill began training in radiographic technology at St. John Hospital in Detroit and received a Certificate of Radiographic Technology in 1964.  Well liked for his friendly and helpful personality and respected for his knowledge and skill, he progressed in responsibility and was promoted to Chief Technologist in 1968. As St. John Hospital & Medical Center continued to expand and implement newer technology, Bill was instrumental in managing and training the technicians in the growing x-ray department.

Bill always had a love for cars and he and the neighborhood Berlinski brothers rebuilt and customized a 1932 Ford coupe and turned it into a dragster they named the Polecat. Bill became the driver.  Not content just driving straight down a track at 100 miles an hour, Bill also worked on a car that he drove in the insanely dangerous figure eight races at the Mt Clemens racetrack. Bill was a daredevil.

Concerned about a pension, and perhaps needing more excitement in his life, Bill joined the Detroit Fire Department and graduated from the Fire Academy in 1972. He ran with the Engine 52 Ladder 31 Company as well as a few others. In1982 he was awarded a citation for Valor for saving a family of five trapped in a devastating house fire. Harkening back to his youth, he put on the pads and played for the Fireman's hockey team as their goalie.

After sustaining several injuries, he retired from the Department in 1997, but continued to work part time at St. John Hospital until he retired in 2007. His love of baseball was rewarded in 2003 when he was hired by the Detroit Tigers head trainer as a game day radiology tech. Spending time at the stadium during those early losing seasons was rewarded in 2006 when the Tigers won the AL Pennant.  As part of the Tiger organization, he was allowed to wear the AL pennant ring which became one of his prized possessions.

Bill was a member of the St. John Hospital Golf League for many seasons. Always the tinkerer, he started making his own golf clubs convinced that his problem shooting high scores was due to the clubs, not his swing. The many sets of clubs he put together were always guaranteed to add five yards of distance to any swing. Although he referred to his club making as a business, there was not much of a profit, but he took great satisfaction in custom fitting clubs for his friends and family.

By 2007 he and Vic, his pet name for Vickie, started to winter in Galveston, TX which allowed them to spend time with Vic's son, Matthew, and his family, as well as Vic's  sister ,Dr. Cynthia Peacock, and brother-in-law Darrell. In 2013 they moved there permanently which allowed Bill to play a little winter golf with Darrell and his new and expanding circle of friends. He and Vic also enjoyed exploring the Galveston restaurant scene.

Bill never forgot his Michigan roots. His daily routine included reading the Detroit Free Press, especially the sports pages to keep up with his Tigers and Red Wings.  He was always checking in with his brothers and sisters. To his younger sister, Arlene, he was the best big brother anyone could have.

Bill is survived by his wife Vickie, three children from his first marriage: Kristyn, David (Nicol) and John (Alex).  Step-sons Mathew Robertson (Megan) and Michael Robertson (Shannon) and seven grandchildren as well as his sister Valerie (the late Cy) Kruger, the late Lawrence (Joan) Weinert,  Arlene (Tom) Ternes, and Michael (Mary Kathleen) Weinert, along with many nieces and nephews.

We will forever miss his gentle smile, the twinkle in his eyes and his warm, cheery disposition.