Billy H. Taff, 86, of Florence, on Thursday, December 10, 2015, as the clouds parted and the sun shined through, passed through to eternal life with his family by his side, at the Iron County Medical Care Facility, Crystal Falls.

He was born April 30, 1929, in Florence, Wis., the tenth of eleven children to the late Percy and Zelphia (Bailey) Taff.

Billy attended Florence Schools and like many young men at that time quit school to help his parents. It was the end of WWII and all four of his brothers had served in the U.S. Army, his brother Jack, losing his life for our country.

In January, 1951, Billy joined the Army as the Korean War was in progress. He was a member of the 511th Airborne Infantry regiment stationed in Fort Campbell, Kentucky where he earned his Parachute Badge. Billy received an Honorable Discharge in December, 1952. On May 28, 1955, Billy married Joanne Tennermann; they celebrated 60 years of marriage this year.

Billy was a man of many skills and talents; he could fix almost anything. A construction worker by trade, he first worked with Nick DalSanto who helped him hone his skills. Later, he and his brothers, Willard and Roy worked together. Billy eventually went off on his own, building many beautiful homes in the area. Even when he quit the construction business and went to work at the Florence Schools, as a custodian, he never quit building projects. At the age of 70, he decided we needed a cabin in the woods, thus the project began. This past summer, at the age of 86, he decided the cabin needed a sun room! In September, of this year, he was still climbing scaffolding to work on his cabin!

He served the community as a volunteer fireman for most of his adult life, serving as Chief, from 1961-1971. Billy proudly claimed they never lost a basement! He was well known for his wit and sense of humor. Billy liked nothing more than pulling tricks on kids. All the kids in the neighborhood enjoyed being around. They even came over and asked “can Bill come out and play?”

For many years Billy and Joanne spent the winter months in Gulf Shores, Ala., making many friends from across the United States.

Billy is survived by his wife, Joanne; five children, Linda (Bruce) Carlson, Oshkosh, Wis., Connie (Keith) Davis, Florence, Carol Taff, Florence, Nancy Zink, Battle Ground, Wash. and Brenda (Ron) Harkleroad, Reno, Nev.; eight grandchildren, Dr. Heather (Spike) Carpenter, DDS, Holly Carlson, Billy Joe Carlson, Spencer Davis, Lance Davis, Galen Zink, Molly Zink, Hunter Harkleroad; one great-grandson, Henry Carpenter and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by, four brothers, Willard (Mildred), Edward (Doris), Jack and Roy (Helen); six sisters, Beatrice (Morris) Warshawsky, Evelyn (Francis) Padgett, Eva (Mike) Inglese, Hazel (Omer) Huff, Anna (Matt) Podner and Effie (Ernie) McCraw; infant grandson, Issac Zink; father and mother-in-law, Herbert (Phyllis McCraw) Tennermann; brother-in-law, Herbert (Patricia) and sisters-in-law, Susan (Richard) Steber and Jacqueline (Robert) White.

Visitation will be Saturday, December 19, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence. The VFW Florence Post No. 3635 will accord Military Honors, Saturday, 12:15 p.m. at the funeral home. The Funeral Service will be Saturday, 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Doug Johnson will officiate.

Memorials can be made to the Florence Volunteer Fire Department or the Florence Rescue Squad, in Billy’s memory.

You may light a candle in remembrance of Billy or leave a condolence for his family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs-Lundholm Funeral Home, Florence to honor Billy’s legacy of life.