Obituary for William F Whelan
Bill Whelan was a kind and caring man. Always taking the extra time to help out those in need, generous to a fault. He loved the simple things in life, laughing with friends, taking care of the chickens, gardening (he loved his flowers and tomatoes)...and most of all spending time with his family.
There was always a twinkle in his eye, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was their beloved Papa!
He left high school to take care of his Mom, Dad and little sister Kathy, and then took courses at Wentworth to earn a college degree. He became a father at 19 and with the help of his mom raised his son on his own. He met Brenda Dale at Green Hills Ice Cream Shop in Norfolk and that was the beginning of an amazing love story! They got married in 1961 and had 4 more children; 59 years of wedded bliss. They never even had an argument!
Truly a self-made man. He honed his skills at carpentry and eventually started his own business. He was the town building inspector for 30 years, a proud member and past president of the Lions Club. He spent time in the National Guard and was a volunteer Firefighter in Millis. He was a proud and active member of the Catholic Church attending St. Thomas in Millis and St. John’s in Pocasset
He was always careful to save money and plan for his family’s future.
Raising 5 kids is never easy, but Dad always made us feel loved. All he ever wanted for us was happiness; he gave unconditional love!
Losing his daughter Diane in a car accident at the young age of 19 was devastating, but Dad stayed strong for us.
Dad built a cottage in Pocasset for us when we were very young, we all have many happy memories there: field days, swimming and boating, dinners at the Chart Room ... We made lifelong friendships!
He also enjoyed spending winters on Marco Island, Florida. He was on the board of directors for South Seas East. He and Brenda made many great friends there and enjoyed going on cruises and spending time at the beach and pool.
We will always see him puttering along on his John Deere as we look out on the field, and sitting on Martha’s chairs overlooking the beach in Pocasset.
Bill passed away peacefully at his home with his family around him. He was the beloved husband of Brenda J. (Dale) Whelan, and the son of the late William and Alice (Callahan) Whelan. He was the devoted father of William G. “Greg” Whelan and his wife Marylou, Ken Whelan, Wendy Whelan, and Kevin Whelan all of Millis, and was sadly predeceased by his daughter Diane in 1982. He was the proud Papa of Christopher Whelan, Katie Brodt, Heather Bishop, and Cheyenne, Kendra, and Brooke Whelan and friend to their mother Lisa Whelan. And, he was also Great Papa to Kaylee, Benjamin, Fiona, Maizy and Axel.
The family is remembering all of the many friends they have who would want to attend, but due to the current health crisis services will remain private.
Rest In Peace Bill!
There was always a twinkle in his eye, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was their beloved Papa!
He left high school to take care of his Mom, Dad and little sister Kathy, and then took courses at Wentworth to earn a college degree. He became a father at 19 and with the help of his mom raised his son on his own. He met Brenda Dale at Green Hills Ice Cream Shop in Norfolk and that was the beginning of an amazing love story! They got married in 1961 and had 4 more children; 59 years of wedded bliss. They never even had an argument!
Truly a self-made man. He honed his skills at carpentry and eventually started his own business. He was the town building inspector for 30 years, a proud member and past president of the Lions Club. He spent time in the National Guard and was a volunteer Firefighter in Millis. He was a proud and active member of the Catholic Church attending St. Thomas in Millis and St. John’s in Pocasset
He was always careful to save money and plan for his family’s future.
Raising 5 kids is never easy, but Dad always made us feel loved. All he ever wanted for us was happiness; he gave unconditional love!
Losing his daughter Diane in a car accident at the young age of 19 was devastating, but Dad stayed strong for us.
Dad built a cottage in Pocasset for us when we were very young, we all have many happy memories there: field days, swimming and boating, dinners at the Chart Room ... We made lifelong friendships!
He also enjoyed spending winters on Marco Island, Florida. He was on the board of directors for South Seas East. He and Brenda made many great friends there and enjoyed going on cruises and spending time at the beach and pool.
We will always see him puttering along on his John Deere as we look out on the field, and sitting on Martha’s chairs overlooking the beach in Pocasset.
Bill passed away peacefully at his home with his family around him. He was the beloved husband of Brenda J. (Dale) Whelan, and the son of the late William and Alice (Callahan) Whelan. He was the devoted father of William G. “Greg” Whelan and his wife Marylou, Ken Whelan, Wendy Whelan, and Kevin Whelan all of Millis, and was sadly predeceased by his daughter Diane in 1982. He was the proud Papa of Christopher Whelan, Katie Brodt, Heather Bishop, and Cheyenne, Kendra, and Brooke Whelan and friend to their mother Lisa Whelan. And, he was also Great Papa to Kaylee, Benjamin, Fiona, Maizy and Axel.
The family is remembering all of the many friends they have who would want to attend, but due to the current health crisis services will remain private.
Rest In Peace Bill!