William J. “Bill” Bellis

William J. “Bill” Bellis, 86, of Butler passed away peacefully Monday at Butler Memorial Hospital surrounded by his family.

Born July 28, 1930, in Butler, he was the son of the late George Bellis and Mary (Madar) Bellis.

Bill attended St. Paul School and Butler High School. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army, and he worked for Armco Steel for 43 years and nine months.

He was a faithful member of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church and enjoyed talking about the Pirates with Father Harry.

Bill enjoyed and celebrated life with his friends and family at the East Butler Fire Hall, the American Legion, the Happy Hunters and at his river camp in East Brady. He loved floating on the Allegheny River, gardening, hunting and tinkering.

Bill is survived by his four children, Richard Bellis of Butler, William (Marie) Bellis of Butler, Susan (Jay) Gillespie of Madison, Wis., and Kate Bellis (Ken Connor) of Butler; five grandchildren, Ryan (Caitlin) Gillespie of Fond du Lac, Wis., Michael Gillespie (Justine Moore) of Madison, Wis., and Jacob, Daniel and Nathan Bellis of Butler; one sister, Mary Ann (Cletus) Birckbichler of Butler; one sister-in-law, Sally (William) Gahagan of Butler; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by his spouse of 60 years, Mickey, who died Jan. 15, 2016; his brothers, George, Joe and Ed; and his sister, Irene Ekas.

BELLIS — Friends of William J. “Bill” Bellis, who died Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, will be received from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St., Butler. Entombment will follow at the Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.For more information or to leave an online condolence, please visit www.geibelfuneralhome.com.