Bill was born in San Diego, California, May 8, 1941, son of William H.H. Cranmer IV and Virginia Lambert Cranmer. He grew up in California, Washington state and Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Stanford University in 1963 with a B.S. in Biology. While an undergraduate he met and after graduation married Carol Panzer of Portland, Oregon. Later he received both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Bill and Carol traveled together around the world from Europe to Africa, India, the Middle East and Asia. They lived in London; New York; Madison, Wisconsin; Vermillion, South Dakota; and Hudson, Wisconsin. Bill taught Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, the University of South Dakota, De Pauw University, University of Minnesota and St. Catherine’s College.
Bill was born into the Episcopal Church. Carol joined it when she and Bill were married. Together, Bill and Carol were active and devoted members of their churches wherever they lived. On their travels, they attended Anglican church services in England and many other countries.
Retirement in Hudson, Wisconsin, freed Bill to be a leader of the Concerned Citizens for Responsible Development, a grassroots movement to oppose dog track and casino gambling in Hudson.
Elected in a write-in campaign, Bill served four years as County Supervisor for his district.
In his spare time, at his residence in Hudson, he created a beautiful garden landscape which his wife, Carol, and their various dogs and cats enjoyed. He took up canoeing on the lakes and loved to visit the North Shore on Lake Superior.
Bill Cranmer was a generous and faithful supporter of many charities throughout his adult life. His favorite two were the Episcopal Relief Fund and CARE.
He is survived by his wife, Carol, his brother, Tom who lives in Virginia, various other family members and many friends all over the world.
A Memorial Service will be held for Bill at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 22nd at St. Paul’s Epicopal Church, 502 Cty Rd UU, Hudson. The O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Countryside Crematory is assisting the family, 715-386-3725.