Wilford George Holliday

Wilford Holliday, 71, of Gays Mills, died Friday, May 29, 2015. Wilford G. Holliday, 71, of Gays Mills, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2015 at the VA Medical Center in Tomah, WI. He was born in Richland Center, WI on March 13, 1944 to Lloyd and Orpha (Marston) Holliday. He was raised and lived the majority of his life in the Crawford County area. He graduated from Gays Mills High School in 1962. On January 23, 1963 he enlisted in the United States Navy & served until 1967 when he was honorably discharged. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his active duty on the USS Goodrich DDR-831 during the Vietnam War. Will was a proud veteran who spoke frequently of his days aboard ship and the way it shaped his life. Will worked various positions after his service including working as a dispatcher for the Crawford County Sheriffs Department and owning & operating the Hollidays Service Station in Gays Mills. He married Paulette Stussy in 1976, and they farmed for years during this union on the family farm outside of Gays Mills. They later divorced. Will enjoyed many different hobbies including mowing lawns with his riding lawn mower, listening to old time public radio & watching westerns, but most assuredly his favorite past time was to sit at the local gas station drinking coffee & chatting with the locals. Will is survived by his daughters Joan (Kerry) Bunts of Prairie du Chien and Misty Holliday (Andy Ruegg) of Blue River; a son James Holliday of Prairie du Chien; a brother, Larry Holliday of Concord, California; His 10 grandchildren: Alisha, Katrina, Jeff, Brittany, Blake, Logan, Keegan, Adalyn, Braden & Jaelyn; 4 great-grandchildren: Lily, Kaydance, Jayce & Jaxsyn; a dear friend Mae Halverson; a special niece Janie Barlow; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lois Barlow, and an infant son Wilford Holliday, Jr. Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 at the Vosseteig Funeral Home in Gays Mills. John Johnson will officiate with Military Honors to follow. Friends may call at the Funeral Home from 11 a.m. till the time of service at 1. Online condolences may be offered at www.VossFH.com The Vosseteig Funeral Home of Gays Mills is serving the family.