William "Bill" F. Cairns

William "Bill" Cairns, age 73, passed on Thursday, June 5, 2025. He was born on April 6, 1952, in Racine, Wisconsin, to Robert and Vernette Cairns, who instilled in him the value of getting an education. He graduated from Washington Park High School in Racine, where he played football, basketball, and baseball, and was a National Merit Scholar. He worked his way through college doing many summer and part-time jobs, including lifeguarding, assembling hydraulic valves, landscaping, roofing, and working with adolescents at a youth home. He graduated from UW-Parkside and worked as a journalist for the Shoreline Leader for several years before obtaining a teaching degree in English. His teaching career began in South Milwaukee High School, but the majority of his career was at Monona Grove High School, where he coached football, basketball, golf, and ran the school newspaper. He researched cooperative learning while earning his master's degree from Viterbo College. Along the way, he worked on side jobs with a neighboring carpenter, learning by doing how to build decks, vinyl siding, and remodel. He enjoyed fishing the Madison lakes, especially fly fishing for bluegills in the springtime. He discovered the variety of Wisconsin state parks and backpacked along the eskers, kames, and drumlins of the Kettle Moraine on weekends. During the summer, he took backpacking trips in the mountains, experiencing their wilderness and awesome vistas. In the winter, he cross-country skied the local trails and completed the Birkebeiner four times. He was an avid golfer and sheepshead player, as were many of his friends. Of course, he was a fan of the Badgers' football and basketball teams, the Packers, the Brewers, and high school sports. William retired to a home on the Lower Wisconsin Riverway where he pursued his hobbies of reading, playing guitar, fishing, golfing, gardening, brewing beer, and lifelong learning. He is survived by his mother Vernette, four brothers, two sisters, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father. A celebration of William’s life will be held Friday, June 20, 2025, at the Muscoda Park, Lions Shelter from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Memorials may be made to the Muscoda Public Library. The Clary Memorial Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online Condolences may be made at www.clarymemorialfuneralhome.com .

William "Bill" F. Cairns

April 6, 1952 - June 5, 2025