Born in Ukraine to Amalie and Heinrich Keller on March 14, 1935.

In 1939 the family moved to Poland where they lived through WWII and then migrated back to Germany.

In Germany, Bill, at the age of 14, did an apprenticeship as a cabinet maker, which began his career in carpentry.

In 1953, the Keller family sailed the Atlantic on the Italia. They docked in New York and took a bus to Toronto where they began their lives and building their home on the Humber River.

The night before they were moving into their newly built home, Hurricane Hazel hit Toronto and flooded the Humber River. which destroyed their new home as it floated down the river. They rebuilt on Riverlea Drive where Bill helped build the family home and then his own bungalow. While building on Riverlea Drive, Bill ventured to Western Canada working on AT&T towers and Exxon gas stations. He also took his time to enjoy the beauty of Canada and do some fishing. Bill also started writing to the love of his life in Germany. In July 1961, Bill sent a plane ticket and a ring to Charlotte in Germany for her to join in his adventures. She came and they were married on November 18, 1961. Their joined adventure led them to upstate New York where they had one child (Heidi) in May 1970.

Bill worked at many commercial buildings in Orange County, West Point Military Academy and Long Island. In January 1977, when work was hard to find in New York, Bill got in his truck and started driving south. He went through the Appalachian Mountains where he was told to keep going south and there would be work. When he drove over the Texas border he said, "This is where we are going to settle." He pulled into a gas station, changed out of his long johns and filled up with gas for 35 cents a gallon.

He then drove into Houston and went to work framing houses that afternoon. In the next year, Charlotte and Heidi moved to Texas and they bought land in Huntsville. Bill worked in Houston for several years, and on the weekends worked on clearing the land, building fences, barns and their home.

In the '80s Bill started taking jobs in Huntsville where he could be at home with his family. He worked on several foundations with Nash Construction, the Walker County Jail, and outside contractors at the Ellis Unit and the Walls Unit. He often joked that he was the "first to break into prison" as he opened the perimeter wall of the Walls Unit to pour the concrete gate on the north side. After many years and projects in Huntsville, Bill went to work for Gulf Coast Trades Center. He worked there for many years until he retired. Bill mentored and helped teenage girls and boys learn construction skills while building Habitat Houses, residential housing on three campuses, the Family Life Center and many jobs for the forest services. His ability to build while using just one finger is unmatched.  Bill also worked at Sam Houston Museum replacing the wood shingles on Sam Houston's house and recreating the chimneys on the Bear Cabin when it was moved to museum grounds. He helped several people with handicap ramps and porches and always had a soft heart for those with disabilities.

Bill always said to start the workday five minutes early, have your coffee and plan your day and be ready to work at 8 a.m. At the end of the day, Bill urged others to clean their area and plan the next day.  It is fair to your employer to give him a good day's work.

Whether you called him Bill, or Willie, Screaming Bill or Wild Willie, or in the older years Mild Bill or Opa, he was always fair and respectful, caring and kind and always took care of his family and those in need.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, his beloved Charlie (Charlotte) as well as his parents, brother Albert Keller, sisters Freddie Keller, Linda Leber and Ingrid Brix. He will be missed greatly by his daughter, Heidi Losack (Jaron), his sister, Trudy Keller, and grandson Johnnie Waddill as well as a host of nieces and nephews, friends we call family, Stephanie, Tom, Stew and Tamara and many other close friends. Thank you to Dr. Nebeel Khan, Dr. Abassi and Dr. Aggarwala and their staff, as well as the wonderful staff at STAT Home Health and St. Joseph's Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice.