January 31, 1941 – September 4, 2026
William (Bill) Towell passed away peacefully at Pinewood Court Southbridge on Friday, September 4th, 2026.
Bill was born in Fort William on January 31st, 1941, to Ida and Bill Towell Sr. Bill Sr. served as a driving instructor in the Army and was stationed in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Ida took Billy and traveled to Steinbach to stay with her family on the Biedler farm. When Billy was two, they boarded a train and journeyed to Chilliwack to join Bill. Ida often shared stories about how Bill entertained the troops during that trip.
After the war ended, the family moved to Rosslyn and then settled in Vickers Heights on Bowlker Road, where Bill Sr. built their home. Bill attended Vickers Heights School. During this time, he joined the Scouts and earned his Queen Scout badge. At age 13, his parents sold their house and relocated to Slate River, where they purchased Towell’s Store on Highway 61.
Bill went on to attend Selkirk High School while helping out at the store. He started his own small business called Bill’s Bait Shop, selling worms and minnows to American tourists. He studied saxophone under Roy Coran and formed a band that performed at Slate River Hall.
After graduating high school, Bill headed to Winnipeg for air conditioning studies at Manitoba Institute. Upon returning to Fort William, he began an apprenticeship with Seaway Refrigeration before taking a technician position at Sears.
Continuing his passion for music, he joined the Serenaders Orchestra under Eddie Hautanen in 1963 and played regularly at Finlandia Club on Saturday nights. On October 8th, 1966, he proposed to Patsy during intermission while both families were present. Afterward, Ida had prepared a turkey dinner with all the fixings back at the store after work that night. They married on August 12th, 1967.
Bill pursued further education and obtained his teaching certificate before starting his career as a high school teacher at Westgate High School in 1969. In 1973, he left teaching behind to launch Polar Refrigeration with former students as his first employees. Eventually those students took over when he retired; today it continues operating successfully.
In 1967, Bill and Pat built their own home along Highway 61 where they raised their three daughters: Pam, Barb, and Susan.
He retired in 2000 but loved spending time fishing and camping with family or hunting alongside friends Vince Gernat and his brother Art or Pat’s brother Len along with nephews.
The family would also travel south during winter months for visits with Bill’s parents in Florida or Texas.
A dog lover throughout his life; Lane was just the start followed by Max, Buddy , Paco , and finally Happy. The joy these dogs brought filled both Bill’s life-and our family’s-with happiness.
Music remained an important part of his life; he became active within Thunder Bay Musicians Union performing not only with Big Band but also Klown Band Community Band plus “Just The Two Of Us” alongside Patsy. Summers spent together were cherished memories made relaxing down by Oliver Lake campgrounds.
A past president of West Fort Kiwanis , he regularly attended services across multiple churches including St Marys Church , St Marks Church & St Paul’s Anglican Church.
Bills friends George Davis & Art Hock stood faithfully beside him until end times arrived leaving them heartbroken without him now gone forevermore
His wife Pat has survived him after being married for nearly sixty years along children Pam (Greg), granddaughter Emily Heroux (Carson), grandson Nathaniel Shimkoff(Sydney) daughters Barbara Towell/Susan Towell granddaughters Mia/Luma brother Art(Kathy), nephews Rob/Jeff/Brad also Len(Cathy), nephew Art(Yvonne) niece Jennifer(Jason).
Sadly predeceased by parents Ida/Bill Towell plus Isabel/Eddie Hautanen.
Sincere appreciation goes out towards Thunder Bay Regional Hospital/St Joseph’s Hospital Care Group Pinewood Court Southbridge staff members who provided excellent care throughout each facility visited providing love/compassion shown daily towards him there too.
Special thanks go toward our nephews Rob Jeff Brad helping greatly during Bills hospital stay grateful beyond measure we truly couldn’t have done it without support received from neighbors/friends next door either. In lieu flowers please donate memory contributions made directly towards Ontario SPCA Humane Society Northwest Animal Centre instead if wished kindly so thank you very much!
