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William “Bill” Boutwell, a devoted husband and loving father, passed away at the age of 77 on July 1, 2026.
Bill was born to William and Toni Boutwell in Ashland, Wisconsin. He attended Michigan Technological University where he earned degrees in Chemistry and Engineering Administration. While a student at Michigan Tech, Bill met the love of his life, Mary King. They were married in Calumet in 1968.
After working for the Environmental Protection Agency in the Twin Cities, Bill and Mary moved to Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, where Bill worked for Erie Mining Company and where they raised their family. He later held management positions at Georgia Pacific and Minnesota Power. Shortly after Bill retired from Minnesota Power in Cohasset, Minnesota, he and Mary moved to Laurium, Michigan, where Mary was born and raised.
Bill’s greatest joy was his family. He was a loving husband to Mary and an incredibly proud, supportive father to his three children Brett, Brandy, and Bart. He shared his love of downhill skiing with his children and spent many days and weekends with his family skiing in Minnesota and Upper Michigan. He also enjoyed spending time on his boats fishing on the Iron Range or cruising on Lake Superior. An amateur radio (HAM) enthusiast, Bill was also known as KB0BK to his friends in the amateur radio community in the Midwest and around the world.
As the years went on, he found great joy watching his grandchildren Madison, Emma, Josie, and Eloise grow into amazing individuals. He cherished every moment spent with them.
He will be remembered as a kind, smart, and caring man who deeply loved his family, his dog Cameron, and erecting HAM radio towers.
Bill is survived by his children Brett (Tonia), Brandy (Lynn Rosen) and Bart (Heather Grovum), and his brother Sam Boutwell (Sandy). He is also survived by his grandchildren Madison, Emma, Josie and Eloise. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife Mary who passed in 2024.
KBOBK has gone silent key, but his signal will remain in our hearts forever.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com